Dharamshala, Aug 20 (Agency) An international-level convention centre, being built with a Rs.160 crore fund sanctioned by the Asian Development Bank, is slated to come up in Dharamshala of Himachal Pradesh, an official said on Monday. The convention centre, the first of its kind in the state, will be constructed on 2.2 hectares of land at Zorawar Singh Stadium on Tapovan Road. The build-up area would be around 40,836 square metres. Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Raghuvir Singh Bali told UNI that several projects are coming up in the state, including wellness centres at Shimla, Nadun and Kullu, wedding destinations, an Ice skating ring, renovated hotel and an international standards fountain. He said the Asian Development Bank is funding these projects and loan negotiations have already been completed and the loan agreement will be signed in the next two months. To save time the state government has started the process at all levels so that the projects come up in the state well in time. The Tourism Department has floated tenders for the construction of the International Convention Centre at Dharamshala. He said the work would start in two months soon after the tenders are finalised.
The tenders have been issued official sources disclosed today. The project was conceived nine years back and at that time it was supposed to come up at Khaniyara in the outskirts of Dharamshala but the authorities failed to get an appropriate land for the project there. when it was decided to construct this international Convention centre at Zorawar Singh Stadium, there was resentment among the locals who argued that the stadium was the only ground available for the general public and tournaments too were held there. In the beginning, the authorities had to face tough opposition from the public. However, now the administration has managed to get the backing of the locals.The main International convention centre block when completed would be surrounded by a residential block, a hotel block and a parking lot.