GANDHINAGAR: Dry Gujarat is all set to get its biggest watering hole in a desert. This could be a jackpot for a state struggling to boost its tourism. The Gujarat government is betting big on Casino Zone, replete with bars to draw visitors.
The Rs 480-crore project, already tipped as ‘Indus Oasis’ will come up at Khadir in the Rann of Kutch near the famous ruins of Dholavira, the Indus Valley civilisation site. The zone will be modelled on Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, which, like Khadir, is situated on the arid desert floor within Clark County. An authoritative document ‘Blueprint for Infrastructure in Gujarat 2020’, prepared by Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board, says the zone will also have an 18-hole world-class golf course and will be “facilitating all types of gambling for entertainment” with the exception of “speculative activity, for example bets on cricket matches”. While restricting the activities within the “exotic zone”, the document also promises bars “subject to the conditionality of the law”. With plans to set up a seven-star hotel, the area will be embellished with other activities like discotheques, spa, theatre, library, and a modern hospital to encourage medical tourism. As corporates visiting Kandla-Gandhidham-Mundra zone may come to the area, the document further proposes a corporate and community zone called ‘The Arena’, offering a multitude of large and small venues facilitating business meets and commercial shows. Then, there will be desert safari with special jeeps and camel rides akin to the ones available in Dubai and adventure sports like motocross, trophy truck race as well as camel race in the desert. Other attractions include an “artificial mechanism called Bay of Waves along with artificial beach to provide the experience of sea coast” and a huge water body constructed at various depths “to facilitate all types of water games, including skiing and motor sports”. There will also be car and motorbike hiring facility. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Ahmedabad/Now-a-Las-Vegas-in-dry-Gujarat/articleshow/6112570.cms -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""GLOBAL SPECULATORS"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/globalspeculators?hl=en.
