The state-of-the-art infrastructure developed at Mantalai under the Prime Minister’s Development Package was envisioned as a beacon of wellness tourism and spiritual enlightenment. However, since its completion in September-October 2023, the facility has remained unutilised due to bureaucratic delays in outsourcing the assets. The prolonged inaction is not only a waste of resources but also a setback to the region’s potential for economic and cultural development. The project, developed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, includes a Yoga Centre, a Wellness Spa, eco-log huts, a heliport, an amphitheatre, and several other high-end facilities. These assets were designed to attract both domestic and international tourists, thereby boosting local employment and regional tourism. However, the infrastructure remains unutilised due to the slow approach to finalising the outsourcing process.
The formation of a committee of officers to oversee the outsourcing was a step in the right direction. However, the subsequent delay in finalising the Request for Proposal and the time taken by the Transaction Advisor to incorporate suggested changes indicate a concerning lack of urgency. This bureaucratic inertia means that the world-class facilities continue to deteriorate rather than being put to productive use. The delay is particularly disheartening because it deprives the local population of employment opportunities and denies potential visitors access to a unique wellness and spiritual experience. The project was intended to integrate Mantalai into India’s growing wellness tourism industry, a sector that has seen tremendous growth in recent years. By allowing such premier infrastructure to remain idle, the Government has failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to enhance tourism revenue and economic prosperity in the region. Moreover, maintaining such vast infrastructure without proper utilisation will impose a significant financial burden on the exchequer. Engaging only a private security agency for watch and ward is an inadequate approach when the facility should be bustling with activity. The longer the assets remain unused, the higher the risk of deterioration, leading to increased costs for repairs and renovations in the future. The Government must act decisively before Mantalai’s grand vision becomes another case of wasted potential.
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