Rs 200-crore tourist complex coming up at Auhar

In an effort to develop Bilaspur district as a new tourism destination, the Rs 200-crore tourist complex, which was proposed by the government to be constructed at Auhar village, is now taking shape. The complex is being built on the sprawling land of nearly 100 kanals on both sides of the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had inaugurated a water sports and paragliding activity centre in Govind Sagar Lake near Bilaspur town. A small cruise ship was also launched in the lake, but it could not be continued after the water level receded in summers.

Meanwhile, four stories of the tourism complex were constructed on one side of the four-lane highway, and the leveling of land on the other side of the four lane was also carried out. The government had earlier started the project with an outlay of Rs 96 crore, but it was later expanded to nearly Rs 200 crore with the increase in number of restaurants and rooms. It also proposed to have a recreation area, along with a mini theatre and conference halls.

Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani said once the project would be completed, it would not only provide best facilities to tourists but also add huge revenue to the state exchequer and generate jobs for youth.

He said it was CM Sukhu’s dream project, and that he was regularly taking progress report of the project. CM Sukhu had directed the construction firm to complete it within a year, he added.

Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, said the construction work on the tourist complex at Auhar was expedited, and that every effort was being made to complete the project before stipulated time.