Dehradun: During a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister’s residence on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to quickly prepare a detailed roadmap for the establishment of one Spiritual Economic Zone in each of the state’s divisions. The Chief Minister stated that this initiative will be a major step towards establishing Uttarakhand as a global spiritual, cultural, and tourism hub.
The Chief Minister stated that this project will include the preservation of religious, cultural, and natural heritage sites, as well as the holistic development of pilgrimage sites and their surrounding areas. This will provide new employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth, while also boosting the state’s economy. He directed officials to begin work on this plan this fiscal year. Yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, naturopathy, local handicrafts, mountain products, and cultural events will also be encouraged. The Chief Minister stated that this initiative will further enrich the state’s tourism landscape and strengthen Uttarakhand’s identity as the “spiritual capital.”
The Chief Minister also emphasized the need to further strengthen winter travel arrangements at the meeting. He stated that infrastructure should be expanded at the state’s winter destinations, strengthening travel, accommodation, transportation, and security arrangements so that more tourists can experience the state’s natural and cultural diversity. He emphasized the need to promote the state’s tourism potential through traditional and modern means, both domestically and internationally.
The Chief Minister stated that the goal is to promote tourism in the state, improve the quality of life of the people, and move towards sustainable development while preserving the state’s natural and spiritual heritage. He directed officials to develop a concrete strategy to implement these plans and ensure timely monitoring of each step. Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj also joined the meeting virtually.
Badri-Kedar Temple Committee Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, Local Commissioner Ajay Mishra, Additional Secretary Abhishek Rohila and concerned officials were present in the meeting.
