The first phase of the proposal includes development of villages on the Delhi-Mathura-Agra highway, the Delhi-Chandigarh highway and the Delhi-Shekhawati road, which branches out from the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

If the proposal is implemented successfully, travellers can take a break at the villages. For instance, tourists travelling from the Capital to Shekhawati in Rajasthan, often stop at the Chandani restaurant on the highway. Once the proposal is implemented, tourists can stop at the Raghunathpura village, five kilometers from Narnaul on Singhana road. This village is surrounded by the Aravalli ranges and the road itself passes through hillocks.

The HTPB, however, is likely to face several hurdles before the scheme is successfully implemented - foremost being garnering of support of the villagers. HTPB chairperson S.K. Mishra told Express Newsline: ``We are judging the mood of the villagers now. Whether they will accept tourists is an important question. The HTPB has already put non-governmental organisations on the job. We did not want to put government officials on the job because they cannot mingle with the villagers and are always in a rush to report back to headquarters.''

Another village where the HTPB is experimenting is Banchari. So far, the NGOs there are getting a positive response from the villagers, who are eager to make some extra money from the tourists.

The proposal envisages the construction of small hotels in the villages: 10-room dwellings at reasonable rates that specialise in local cuisine. These hotels will be managed by the HTPB. In accordance with the proposal, locals from the village will be employed at the hotel. Says Mishra: ``Village tourism has tremendous potential. Initially, we will target domestic tourists: tired Delhiites who want to get away for a short stay in a village. Then, we will make arrangements for international travellers. We expect three tourist circuits to be developed in five years time, attracting over three lakh tourists to spend at least one or two nights in the village.''

The proposal also envisages getting non-governmental organisations to adopt the tourist villages to promote literacy, health and sanitation awareness and better nutritional standards among villagers. Says Deputy Commissioner (Faridabad) B.K. Panigrahi: ``The village tourism project will definitely change the face of the villages. Communication and transport facilities, which will be introduced for the tourists, will benefit the villagers as well''.