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The sunset point developed at a cost of INR 30 crore near Sasan in Gujarat is waiting for inauguration for the last one year. The tourism department of Gujarat government had launched this project at Bhalchel village near Sasan in 2020 with a view to providing certain attractions to tourists coming for lion safari.
At the sunset point, facilities like a food court, an amphitheatre, a children’s play area, a selfie point, an amusement park and a place to organise cultural events in the evening have been built. The idea was to keep the the tourists engaged with some activity in the evening.
It was also believed that once the tourists are occupied in the evening, they won’t have the temptation of seeing lions at night which is illegal. Besides, the project aimed at creating employment for local people.
Under the project, various commercial centers, including a tourism office, passenger accommodation, art and craft center , food court, shopping mart, and parking space, will be developed in the tourist center . It is believed that within the next one and a half months, the project will come on the ground and the process of materialising the works will begin.
In the past, the hotels and resorts association has represented several times to the tourism department and local administration requesting them to throw open this facility for public. The association says the sunset point should open soon as there is going to be heavy rush of tourists during Diwali and Christmas holidays for lion safari. Mukesh Mehta, former president of Sasan Hotels Association, said: “The sunset point is ready for the last one year but it is not being opened for tourists. The tourists coming to Sasan do not have any option for entertainment. The sunset point will be a good attraction.”
Sasan attracts a large number of tourists and wildlife lovers who come to enjoy the safari of Asiatic lions. A rough estimate says five to six lakh tourists, including foreign tourists, visit Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary every year.
When contacted, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) managing director P S Zamsingh, said: “The opening of this sunset point was delayed because of some technical reason but the tender for operation and management of the facility is ready and within a day or two, we will publish a tender. We expect to open the facility in next two months.”
“The tourism department is very much concerned about the development of tourism in Sasan area,” he Zamsingh said.
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