30 Minute Interview

'All tourism-related matters should be handed over to the state governments'

Known as a 'do-er', Sheila Dikshit, chief minister of Delhi government who begins her second term in office is committed to making Delhi a truly global city that every Indian will be proud of. By Jyoti Koul

Sheila Dikshit Chief Minister, Government of Delhi

Delhi has always remained a transit point and as a result it has not developed as a long haul tourist destination. What is being done to change this?

I would not like to believe that Delhi is a transit point. Delhi is a hot seat of power and it is one of the oldest cities where culture comes alive. It is a perfect blend of tradition and modern urban culture. It has good infrastructure too, in terms of roads, educational institutions, health facilities, archeological monuments, gardens and parks, and now its latest attraction is the metro. Delhi is like a mini India where you see reflections of each and every part of our country. Delhi is really exciting and it is the showpiece of the country. It is an action packed city and all these features are what attract tourists even from far off places.

How is Delhi preparing to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010?

We are all geared up and all the concerned agencies are pulling up their socks in order to be bang on time. Roads are being refurbished, parks are being made ready, airports are being upgraded, civil amenities are being improved and hotels are being built.

Keeping in view the influx that this event will bring in, what initiatives have been taken to ensure safety for the tourists, especially the women?

In Delhi we are inducting additional police force to be deployed at all the tourist interest sites, especially at the historical monuments. I am aware of the fact that Delhi has an image that portrays it as a little unsafe, however in reality it is as safe as any other destination elsewhere in the world. I want to ensure that each and every tourist, be they international or domestic, feel as safe and comfortable as they would feel in their native place. Also, we are training girls to take on the job. Besides we are also deploying lady constables so that women tourists can easily share their apprehension, if any, or seek assistance. The Delhi government will be launching new tourist help lines soon.

What are the major achievements in the city’s infrastructure development?

In the last few years, due to the introduction of CNG, the vehicular pollution has gone down considerably. Controlling pollution was a big challenge. We have focused on providing good health centres and have very good educational institutions, as well. Overall, infrastructure is good. Our bed-and-breakfast scheme is really doing well. I think most of all, the metro is our biggest achievement. It is going to be one of the biggest networks in the country. Development is an ongoing process aimed at realising the dream of making Delhi a popular city to live in.

Delhi is also emerging as a strong medical tourism destination - are things going in the right direction right now?

Where earlier people used to go to Mumbai for treatment, today most tourists are coming to Delhi from New York and Europe as they get the best medical aid at comparatively lower prices here. As a result many doctors of Indian origin have come back and settled here.

Do you think that tourism should be included in the concurrent list?

Yes, very much. All tourism-related matters should be handed over to the state governments. The problem with Delhi is that the federal government is here, serving as both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is that it is the seat of India - therefore with the federal government being here, movements get passed faster. But the disadvantage is that we do not have the freedom of other states; I have to share and take everybody on board.