Allahabad as super tourists spot

ALLAHABAD: The multi-crore Yamuna river front development schemes to woo domestic and foreign tourists are set to transform the city into a ‘super’ tourist destination in near future.
The plans, incorporating various government, semi-government and private sector players, include setting up of a Rs 3 crore Teertha Upavan housing symbolic replicas of important teerthas like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Jagannath and Rameshwaram.
These projects are being executed at the behest of Assembly Speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi who represents City South assembly segment. In fact, Tripathi has provided Rs 1 crore from the Vidhayak Nidhi for the purpose.
He has envisioned development of the Kumbh city in keeping with its Vedic, Pauranic and mythological traditions for attracting tourists and also generating jobs.
The plans also include beautification of Yamuna banks in the city and on Arail side.
“A tourist resort of 16 rooms on the city side of the Yamuna has already been constructed at a cost of Rs 60 lakh,� said Tripathi in an informal talk with this correspondent.
“Elaborating, he said the five-km road from Naini Bridge to the Pauranic Someshwar Nath temple, along the Arail side of the Yamuna bank and also on the city side, give the area the look of Mumbai’s Marine Drive.
The Yamuna Drishya Sthal, as Tripathi called it, is being extended towards west and east as well. Citing some problems, he said on the east lies the Cantonment which is a restricting factor.
Similarly, on the west there were some shanty colonies and a provision was being made to provide alternative accommodation to their residents. The UP Housing Development Corporation officers have already surveyed the area for the purpose, he informed.
Also, construction was in full swing at the Rs 3 crore Teertha Upavan project. While a replica of Kedarnath has already been constructed, work was continuing on that of Ayodhya.
Tripathi said he had written to divisional commissioner to provide sufficient funds from the Poorvanchal Nidhi for the purpose.