Kargil, November 15, 2025: Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Culture and Information & Public Relations, Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, on Saturday chaired a comprehensive review meeting in Kargil to assess progress on major heritage conservation, tourism development and cultural infrastructure projects in the district. The meeting, held at the Conference Hall in Baroo, brought together senior officials from multiple departments and executing agencies.
A detailed presentation was made on the Conservation and Preservation of Old Bazar Kargil as the Silk Route Market. Rodrigues reviewed the structural components and overall status of the heritage redevelopment project, directing officials to complete the work within the stipulated timeframe. He fixed October 30, 2026 as the final deadline and stressed strict adherence to the approved design and heritage conservation norms, warning against any deviation.
Under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme, officials presented the project details of Hunderman Broq, including proposed infrastructure, architectural elements, the site plan and a preview of the Sangam View Point. The Secretary instructed the Executive Engineer and project consultant to submit a revised and more creative design within three days, ensuring the redesign incorporates local inputs and reflects the cultural character of the region.
Projects such as the Draupadi Kund development in Drass and the long-pending Kargil Convention and Cultural Centre were also reviewed. After examining the CPWD presentation, Rodrigues directed that the tender document must include a mandatory clause requiring the selected agency to operate the facility for at least ten years to ensure long-term functionality and public benefit.
Other projects reviewed included the proposed Museum at Trespone, the Water Screen Projection Multimedia Show at the Tourist Facilitation Centre in Kargil, and the physical and financial progress of major ongoing tourism works. He also assessed the realignment proposal for the road to Karchey Khar village and nearby heritage sites and called for early restoration of the Chamba structure at Mulbekh.
To boost heritage tourism, the Secretary, along with the Deputy Commissioner Kargil and revenue officials, scheduled a site visit to identify suitable land for developing a Petroglyphs Park in the district. Progress on the Sher Bagh and Bagh development projects was also reviewed.
Rodrigues issued several administrative directions, emphasising that all departments must prepare detailed DPRs and proper presentations for projects and ensure that new infrastructure is functional and avoids becoming a “dead asset.” He also noted that a proposal for uniform signage across Ladakh’s heritage monuments and tourist locations is under consideration.
The meeting was attended by SE PWD Dr. Tsewang Thinlas; Executive Engineer R&B Kargil Er. Mansoor Hussain; Executive Engineer KDA Er. Syed Mehdi; Municipal Committee Executive Officer Arifa Iqbal; Deputy Secretary Culture Nazir Hussain; Executive Engineer CPWD Sanjay Kumar Pal; Assistant Director Tourism Mohd Ali Tak; CEO KDA Nargis Bano; AO KDA Shamim Ahmed; Deputy Director Archives Khadim Hussain; senior officials from AEE, District Library, Archives, KDA, Tourism, Culture and R&B.
