Tourism dept to sell Rajasthan as preferred tourist spot

Rajasthan's Department of Tourism has geared itself to hard sell the state as the most preferred tourist destination in the 'Resurgent Rajasthan' summit.

In its presentation to high-profile delegates, the department will focus on the tourism infrastructure that is already in place in the state and the new projects that are being undertaken to further strengthen the tourism infrastructure, said Rajasthan's Minister of State for Tourism, Usha Punia.

It will focus on the fact that the five national highways (NH8, NH11, NH12, NH14, NH15), which pass through Rajasthan, are all four-lanes or six-lanes.

Furthermore, the state also has five mega highways in the state sector. The state highways to become four lanes will be: Jaipur-Ringas, Kishangarh-Beawar, Jaipur-Deoli, Beawar-Pali, Swaimadhopur and Alwar-Bhartpur-Bandikui.

An extensive railway network already exists "� which has been further augmented by the Shatabdi train on the golden triangle. In terms of air connectivity, the minister informed that Jaipur will have a new international terminal building by July next year. The runway will be extended from 9,000 ft to 11,500 ft.

"The Udaipur airport will become the second international airport of Rajasthan in January next year. There is a plan to extend its runway up to 9,000 ft," Punia said.

Punia further informed that all the major airlines were already operating in the state and a new airport in Kota was proposed on the Kota-Jhalwar road, for which the survey has already started. A new green-field airport will be located at Kishangarh. At present, Rajasthan has 14 airstrips for leasing and a Civil Aviation Corporation has been setup.