Himachal gets additional ADB loan for tourism projects

Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it will give additional loan for Himachal Pradesh to develop tourism infrastructure in the state. An ADB team led by Country Director Kenichi Yokoyama called on state Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to allocate the second trench of Rs 750 crore loan under the Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism.

The team appreciated the efforts of the state Tourism Department in implementing the phase one under the programme, which will be over by 2020.

Nineteen projects were sanctioned under phase one out of which 16 were completed and the remaining three would be completed by June 2020. The main projects included beautification of the state capital and restoration of British-era Town Hall building in Shimla.

A new proposal of Rs 1,800 crore would be submitted to the ADB for funding to promote tourism with an objective of safe, sustainable, economic and eco-friendly tourism habitat supported by improved infrastructure and services.