Dehradun, June 2 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday announced a series of initiatives to boost tourism, employment and infrastructure development in the border areas of Chamoli district, especially Niti Valley, as part of the state government's efforts to strengthen frontier villages and promote community-based tourism. Addressing the prize distribution ceremony of the 'Niti Extreme Ultra Run' virtually, Dhami said the government was "committed not only to promoting tourism activities in border regions but also to strengthening the livelihoods of local residents through sustainable and community-driven development". Under the proposed initiative, community-based tourism will be promoted in villages including Niti, Malari, Kosha, Farkiya, Bampa, Gurguti, Kailashpur and Mahargaon in Chamoli district. Infrastructure needed for rural tourism, including community-based homestays, will be developed to improve visitor facilities and create new livelihood opportunities. The chief minister said that signage and viewpoints would be developed across villages and important tourist destinations in the Niti Valley to enhance visiters' experience. Dhami also announced the establishment of a 'Seema Darshan Kendra' or Border Viewpoint Centre in the strategically important Rimkhim and Barahoti areas to attract tourists interested in visiting frontier regions in the state. He added that infrastructure facilities would be "developed at the Dupphudhar ground in Gamshali village to strengthen adventure tourism activities and facilitate the organisation of large-scale events in the region". "These initiatives will provide renewed momentum to tourism, employment generation and economic development across the entire border belt, including the Niti Valley," the chief minister said. Referring to the Centre's Vibrant Villages Programme, Dhami said "border villages were no longer being viewed as the country's last villages but as its first villages, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi". Expansion of basic infrastructure under the Programme was encouraging reverse migration and creating new economic opportunities for residents, he said. He added that the number of homestays in the Niti region had increased from just 35 to over 450 in recent years. He said events such as the Niti Extreme Ultra Run reflected the changing development landscape of border regions and were helping integrate remote villages into the mainstream. Dhami described the run, organised at an altitude of nearly 11,000 feet, as a symbol of the courage, energy and determination of the country's youth. "This awakening in the Niti Valley is not merely an event but the beginning of a new chapter of self-respect, self-reliance and hope for the border regions. This campaign will not stop here and will reach every border valley of Uttarakhand," he said. The chief minister also congratulated the organisers, including the Indian Army, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and local residents, for the successful conduct of the event. Organised jointly by the state Tourism Department, the Indian Army and the ITBP, the three-day Niti Extreme Ultra Run witnessed participation from more than 1,200 runners representing 27 states. The event was aimed at promoting border tourism, showcasing local culture and encouraging fitness among young people....