Tourists can now enjoy a helium balloon ride at Shilpgram in Agra, Gulistan tourist complex in Fatehpur Sikri and at Sant Ravidas Ghat in Varanasi.
The UP empowered committee on public private partnerships has approved an issuance of request for qualification document for setting up helium balloon ride facilities at the above mentioned places. This is expected to give a major boost to tourism in these places.
The committee also appointed consultants (consortium of UDeC, IDFC and Innovest) for preparing a detailed project report for setting up the ropeways at each of the three locations earmarked for the helium balloon ride.
The committee, headed by Anil Kumar Gupta, infrastructure and industrial development commissioner, has also approved a proposal to restart the sound and light show at the historic Residency in Lucknow.
According to an official release issued by the office of the IIDC, the first phase will focus on starting the helium balloon ride facility in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Varanasi and the services would later be extended to Lucknow.
The project will be developed by the private developer, for which the state will facilitate an estimated 4,000 square metres of land at a capital cost of approximately `6 crores.
Apart from appointing the consultant for carrying out the studies, preparing feasibility reports and readying a master plan for the three ropeway projects, the government has also decided to promote religious tourism and provide better transit facilities to pilgrims.
In this regard, the private developers will also make ropeways facilities available at the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, Mathura, Devangana valley in Chitrakoot and Vindhyavasani Kali Khoh — Ashtabhuja in Mirzapur.
The steering committee also said private players should be encouraged.