It is heartening to learn that there is an
international standard Convention Centre being planned in the Doon Valley by
the State government. While this will be an asset not only for Dehradun and
Uttarakhand but even for the country being close to world-renowned pilgrimage,
tourist, ayurveda and yoga centres Haridwar and Rishikesh besides the Queen of
Hills Mussoorie. However, on the back of this there are many Dos and Don’ts and
intrinsic planning needed if the government really wants this project to shine
Uttarakhand globally and their reputation and prove what they plan of an
international scale convention centre.
The new Rawat Government is promoting Uttarakhand
as an international destination not only for tourists but business community
alike. Towards this end professional approach is must to carve out a place for
the State on professional lines to reach out to the world. While government’s
willingness to support a project is important that alone will not do. What is
really important is professional backing and countless other things needed to
run establishments as important as an international standard Convention Centre.
It might sound simple setting up of a
convention centre, but many things go in to make it a successful venture that
too if planned on an international scale. For such massive projects besides
professional advice the government be willing to also take in good views from every
quarter and especially from people who have exposure of visiting some of the
leading convention centre’s around the world to share their views on the basic
amenities and services that they may have experienced and that are a must in
making a complete convention centre. Towards this the government planners have
to shun off their attitude of “know all” and be ready first with big ears.
Being audience to a discussion by a group of people
the other day on governments plans to set up an international standard
convention centre here, I was speechless and utterly dismayed to gather from
the talks of a few, who were a learned lot, few influential from the government
and business and many with deep pockets. This lot felt that in the coming time
big family functions will be easy to organize in Dehradun. Who matters for the
price was a general feeling expressed by the group. Nodding my head in non
connivance with their thoughts, I gathered the plot for my piece of writing.
Thank you guys!
So friends, the point that I gathered from the
discussion was simple yet a severe one that may have far-reaching and
disastrous results if not addressed properly. The very mind-set of people
looking at a convention centre as a future place for large family gatherings and
its other similar use is the big question.
The first and the biggest of all the Dos and
Don’ts that I want to stress specially after listening to my so-called learned
friends mentioned is the worry that the proposed Centre does not take the shape
of a spacious “Bharat Ghar” or “Community Centre” by the influential. No
wedding ceremonies of anyone be allowed there. Purely business convention or
similar other activities that does not lower its decorum and décor be allowed. Pity
if this does not happen!
The Government may strictly adhere to the
Convention Centre’s charter of professional functioning and decorum. The
influential refrained from meddling with the day-to-day affairs of the Centre.
It is the constant interference of the influential lot for self motives that
drains out energy of professionals and the project making it mediocre or
non-existent in due course. Too many cooks be avoided as it will only spoil the
broth. The functioning should thus be handled by some internationally renowned
and experienced group of professionals or convention centre operating chain who
know the business of upkeep of such projects. Letting out the project in
professional hands can generate good revenue for the State.
Another big issue the government and the
planners have to keep in mind very clear and straight is for Gods sake not to
shove in this project in the city limits which unfortunately is already over congested
and gasping for fresh air as a result of increased vehicular pollution, rising
population and inadequate support infrastructure.
Unfortunately since Uttarakhand formed in the
year 2000 most of the government establishments and even Vidhan Sabha along
with housing for the increased population have all been made to accommodate in
the old city limits leading to utter chaos. Good it would have been if the
limits of the Doon extended to accommodate the new entrants to the town. In the
name of development the silly planners have so far already bulldozed most part
of the heritage town of the Doon for poor planning knowing nothing of its past culture.
The left over heritage too is counting its days at the hands of the so-called
development creating hell!
A good mantra for the success of government’s
planning will be to “Go beyond limits”. So long we do not unbound our limits we
cannot progress beyond a point but rather deteriorate even what we have in
present. I hope you have the point that I am trying to make. Go beyond limits
of the city to carve out something new, worth adorable and not axe the past of
this heritage town. Planners don’t mess the already messy town it is now in.
Well! Poor and unsystematic development is another big issue that has many debatable
angles to it. I will refrain from blubbering more on it at this point.
Equally important other than the points already
discussed, for a convention centre of international standards it is not simply
its building infrastructure that counts, more importantly the roads leading to
it are. Its vicinity to the airport connected with efficient public transport
and cabs to the city, stared hotels around and ample parking space are the
wholesome package that goes in making a true convention centre. Visualize a
scenario where absence of basic but important facilities guests coming from
abroad running hither thither for their stay, looking for efficient transport
or battling the jams and snarling traffic on roads to reach the destination and
on reaching the destination face parking problem. No one will dare to come the
second time to such a place. Additionally the message spread through the word
of mouth will be still graver in size to stop others from coming here. So a
good convention centre project cannot be seen in isolation. There are many
facilities that go in its success. There cannot be a compromise of basic
facilities and features as discussed.
To substantiate to what has just been said
there is no denying that presently commuting from the town (Capital of the
State) to the Jolly Grant airport, a stretch of just 26-27 kilometers takes
around one hour. The long time taken to reach the airport is due to patchy
roads, ongoing and unplanned constructions blocking passage coupled with road
widening project hindering traffic and not completed even after years of toil
is pitiful. These situations in the case of the proposed international convention
centre project be averted. New approach roads carved out first before the
government's dream project unfurled.
The point that I am trying to make here is when
a project like an airport (basic transport lifeline) confronted with situation
like improper roads leading to it or lack of good and efficient public
transport connecting it to the town how can a project like a convention centre
which has absolutely no comparison or equality with that of an airport be run
efficiently with absence of the features as pointed out?
The NITI Aayog, the government body providing
final go ahead to the project must take all these factors into account before
according permission to the State for such a venture. If these issues neglected
it mar the project.
Doonites
eagerly look forward to an international standard convention centre in the
valley but with all the facilities without disturbing the present eco-system
and infrastructure fabric of the already over-crowded city. Disturbing the
present set-up of the town to accommodate yet another big project within its
choked limits will be a deliberate attempt that will lead to utter chaos and
roads no where.
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