By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The Union Ministry of Tourism on Monday said it has sanctioned Rs 100 crore as special assistance for the development of a rafting base station in the holy city of Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
The project was approved to strengthen new facilities for promoting rafting activities in Rishikesh and its nearby places. Under the scheme, a systematic system for booking rafting adventures is likely to be established at the rafting starting points such as Brahmapuri, Shivpuri, Marine Drive and Kaudiyala and ending points such as Neem Beach, Laxman Jhula and Janki Jhula.
Lack of facilities such as toilets and proper changing rooms, lack of safety provisions and traffic congestion on the Rishikesh-Tapovan-Shivpuri corridor are other issues which may be covered under the project.
The Rafting Base Station Project aims to address the infrastructure challenges and gaps in rafting tourism in Rishikesh. The project aims to centralise rafting operations and provide standardised booking system and enhanced facilities to attract high-paying tourists and boost economic development.
The project envisages development of a centralised rafting base station equipped with essential amenities such as toilets, proper changing rooms and roadside food shops to enhance tourist experience. This includes the construction of alternative routes to reduce congestion in the Tapovan area and the implementation of an IT-based monitoring system to ensure safety and efficiency.
The centre has sanctioned 40 such projects under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI Scheme) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale.
Under the scheme, an ecotourism and cultural hub at Roerich and Devika Rani Estate Tataguni in Bengaluru will be developed with a cost of Rs 99.17 crore.