SHIMLA: Setting higher goals of attracting more tourists and earning more revenue from tourism, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday said the state government would turn Himachal Pradesh into one of the favourite tourist destinations in the world.Addressing the closing ceremony of ‘Kotkhai Utsav’ at Kotkhai in Shimla district on Wednesday, Thakur said with the launch of heli-taxi service between Shimla and Chandigarh, the Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to provide state helicopter for tourists. He said the government was planning to start heli-taxi service in other parts of the state to benefit high-end tourists.The CM said it has been ensured that each area of state gets its due in terms of development. He said he had visited about 45 constituencies of the state in the past five months to ensure development of these areas.Earlier, Thakur announced Rs 5 crore for beautification of Hatkoti temple complex. He also announced a PWD division, a degree college, Rs 1 crore for Vikas Bhawan all in Kotkhai; PG classes in four subjects in a degree college Saraswati Nagar; Rs 4 crore for sewerage scheme Saraswati Nagar; Rs 2.11 crore for improving power supply in Nawar area.He also announced district-level status for ‘Kotkhai Utsav’. He also laid the foundation stone of 400m synthetic track with other allied works at existing playground at Saraswati Nagar. The track would be constructed at a cost of Rs 12.50 crore and would be the third such track in the state after Dharmashala and Bilaspur.He also inaugurated tourist reception centre-cum-tracking hostel and parking at Giri Ganga Resort at Kharapathar. The centre has been constructed at a cost of Rs 77 lakh.Thanking the chief minister for launching developmental projects, local MLA Narender Bragta said the area remained neglected during the past five years.

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