Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep has asked the officials to prepare a Rs. 10 crore action plan for development of tourism in Mysuru city.

He was chairing a meeting of officials at his office here yesterday and asked Nirmithi Kendra chief Manjunath to prepare an action plan for Rs. 2 crore that would include information on tourist places, signage and direction boards.

The tourists, who visit Mysuru should find it easy to locate all the places and one easy way to do it is by installing proper direction boards, he said.

Hi-tech toilets should be constructed near bus stations and around the entrance to Mysore Palace pavements should be built. Prepare a plan to construct toilets in Jaganmohan Palace, Rangayana and Kalamandira premises, he told the officials.

Welcome arches must be constructed near the Tollgates on Ring Roads. However, since the road widening work is  going on, at least one welcome arch must be constructed at a place where the work is complete, he said.

Sound and Light show in English

The 45-minute sound and light show hitherto is only in Kannada at the Mysore Palace and to increase the footfalls, an English version has also been planned with the same duration, apart from an Android app on the Palace that will contain details of other places of tourist interest, said Randeep.

There will be an audio guide that is a downloadable pre-recorded audio file, which will have a commentary on the displays at Amba Vilas Palace. According to Randeep, tourists can switch to a specific section on the Palace. On pressing the audio file number specific to the site, the appropriate part of the file will play.

Wifi hotspots

Wifi hotspots will be created in the Palace to allow tourists to download the file. The Palace Board will be asked to provide earplugs on demand, said Randeep. All the three features related to the Palace is likely to be launched by the end of this month, he added.

Water Sport at Varuna

The water sports at Varuna Lake is introduced during Dasara and now there are plans to promote it throughout the year as a centre for adventure sports. “If we  provide this experience to tourists on a daily basis, then they will stay for one more extra day. Tenders will be called from the water sports experts and minimum rates fixed according to rules,” said Randeep.

Tourism Department Deputy Director H. Janardhan made a presentation on the proposed projects. Sports Department Deputy Director Suresh, Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director H. Chennappa, Mysore Palace Board Deputy Director T.S. Subramanya, Heritage Department Deputy Director Nirmala Matapathi and others were present at the meeting.