The decision of UT administration to develop a Theme/Amusement Part at Srinagar’s Tattoo ground is a path breaking one and that would attract more and more tourists thus given a boost to J&K’s economy besides generating jobs. Earlier the UT government had approached MHA in this regard which proposed a collaboration with the Government of UT of J&K for the development of this amusement park. The Government of India intends to support the UT of J&K to leverage the tourism potential of J&K and catalyze growth in the tourism sector by attracting tourists from across the globe by creating a state-of-the-art Theme/Amusement Park (Theme Park) at Tattoo Ground, Srinagar, officials said following a meeting of the Administrative Council (AC) with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in the chair.
Spread over 139.04 acres of land, that too in the heart of the capital city, the park will not only enhance tourist footfall but it will also be a centre of revenue generation and create employment opportunities in the region. Officials said that to undertake the project, a formal institutional structure is proposed as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), under the Companies Act, 2013. The SPV so formed will implement the Theme Park either by itself or through its subsidiary or through a private player, on a Public Private Partnership basis or through any other acceptable mode, as may be decided. SPV will be an asset light company with no investment in the creation of capital assets. They said that the project is expected to create sufficient employment opportunities in the UT. The project will be first of its kind in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the theme park zoning involves sectors like hotels, hospitality, rides, indoor attractions, retail, commercial, offices, film facility, food and beverage etc. and all these sectors have huge potential to create employment generation in the region.
Tourism is one of the income and employment generating sector in J&K. Though the sector got hit following the disturbances post 1990, fortunately it is back on rails from past few years. Besides pilgrim tourism particularly to the Holy Amarnath Cave and Matta Vaishno Devi Temple, J&K has been receiving tourists in huge numbers post 2019. While the UT administration in focusing to promote new tourist resorts besides the traditional Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg trio, the development of Theme Part at Tattoo Ground would be one of the greatest tourist attraction. The administration should speed up the project and try to complete as early as possible.
