Himachal Pradesh is planning to organise a Craft Mela on the lines of the Surajkund Craft Fair. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the state government has identified 95 bighas of land on the Kalka Shimla National Highway for the same. He directed the officers to ensure speedy clearance of various approvals so that work could be started.

To add to the state’s tourist attractions, the sound and light show in the Town Hall at the Mall in Shimla is also scheduled to be completed by March 2021, providing a glimpse into the culture, tradition and lesser-known places of the state. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that this would be an added

attraction for the tourists visiting the state. To facilitate tourism in the state, Thakur also hoped that the Shimla Heliport, coming up at a cost of INR 12.13 crore, would be completed by March next.

While presiding over the 10th meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board, Thakur directed officials to accord top priority to tourism projects nearing completion.

The chief minister said that the Dharamshala to Mcleodganj ropeway, being constructed at a cost of INR 150 crore, would be completed by June 2021. He said that once it starts functioning, the state would get an annual fee of INR 1 crore from this project. He also expressed displeasure over the delay in Adi Himani to Chamunda ji ropeway in Kangra district and Bhuntar to Bijli Mahadev ropeway which was coming up in Kullu district for which concession agreement was signed and survey completed. He said that concession agreement and pre-feasibility report have been finalised regarding Sri Anandpur Sahib to Shri Naina Devi Ji ropeway, coming up at a cost of INR 200 crore.

Work on the convention centre at Kiarighat in Solan district under the Himalayan Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme was also nearing completion, with the centre scheduled to come up by March next year. He said that work had also been started on the development of Maa Hateshwari Temple at Hatkoti in Shimla district which would be completed by December next year.

The tourism secretary, Devesh Kumar, assured the Chief Minister that all the tourism projects being implemented in the state would be completed within the stipulated time period.