Restoration of Mubarak Mandi to prove a tourist boon: Omar

Jammu: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that the restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex would prove a tourist boon for Jammu city attracting tourists from all over the country and abroad round the year.
“To translate the stupendous concept into a reality and achieve a desired goal, a holistic and coordinated approach is required”, he said asking the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society to work on a viable and befitting strategy in this regard.
Chairing the 4th meeting of the Governing Body of Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS) of which he is the Chairman, the Chief Minister received the progress of various works under implementation at present.
Omar Abdullah said that in order to decongest the road leading to the Mubarak Mandi Complex and provide substantial parking place, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) is working on a proposal of constructing multi-tier parking complex near Radio Kashmir, Jammu.
The Chief Minister asked the Society to study the restoration and renovation plans adopted in Rajasthan and in other State of the country making the projects self-sustaining and viable. “Enrich your plans accordingly taking advantage of their success and experience”, he added.
“By putting in new and innovative initiatives in place for the restoration of Heritage buildings and sites as also associating private partners in the concept, they made these places not only best tourist attraction spots but economically viable and profitable ventures”, he said.
The Chief Minister directed for early shifting of the power installations from the present location in the Mubarak Mandi Complex to the one ideal for erecting these without tampering the aesthetics and ambiance of the complex.
The meeting discussed matters relating to the stabilization of hill slopes above circular road, construction of alternate circular road, conservation works through Archaeological Survey of India, creation of parking lots, selection of other executing agencies for heritage works and expression of interest for heritage hotel.
The meeting was informed that the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex project envisages an estimated cost of Rs. 235.92 crores as per DPRs prepared by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), New Delhi and five projects have been prepared in this regard.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Legislator, Ashok Khajuria, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to R&B, K. B. Agarwal, Commissioner Secretary Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atal Dullo, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, members of the Society, Maj. Gen. (Retd) G. S. Jamwal, Prof. Lalit Mangotra, Prof. Zahoor-ud-Din, Prof. M. R. Puri, Anita Billawaria and various senior officers, of the Government.