Chhattisgarh to get a facelift

The Tourism Minister was in Chhattisgarh recently. He met the state’s Chief Minister and promised a few sops for tourism development in the state. gets you the detailed report of the minister’s visit to Raipur.

Dr Mahesh Sharma , the Minister of State for Culture(Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation made several announcements while speaking at Raipur airport during his offi- cial visit to Chhattisgarh. The Minister said that tourism will be used to fight terrorism and generate employment in the country. He once again emphasised the need for beautification, security and cleanliness of monuments and well-developed connectivity to boost tourism.

He also held a meeting with the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh, in which several issues were raised related to promotion of tourism and culture in the state. Singh requested Dr Sharma to include the important historical site of Sirpur in the Buddhist circuit. He promised that the Centre will seriously look into the demand to include Sirpur in its ambitious Buddhist Circuit project. He also assured that funds will be sanctioned for Sirpur site development, especially for the construction of a museum and said that the Rs 48 crore proposal will be sanctioned on priority for the 7 amphitheater projects in the state for which DPRs have already been sent by the state government.

The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister also requested that one more tourist circuit should be sanctioned to Chhattisgarh in addition to the Bastar circuit already sanctioned. He also proposed that an international Tribal festival should be held in Raipur. The State Tourism and Culture Minister of Chhattisgarh, Ajay Chandrakar, was also present at the meeting.

In the Civil Aviation sector, the Chief Minister raised the issues of upgrading Raipur airport into an international airport, the issue of Bilaspur airport as well as raising Jagdalpur as green field airport to which Dr Sharma assured all possible help.

The Minister also sanctioned Swamy Vivekanand’s statue for Swamy Vivekanand airport of Raipur. Earlier Dr Sharma dedicated the third aero-bridge at the Raipur airport to the nation.

Tourism will be used to fight terrorism and generate employment in the country. There is a need for beautification, security and cleanliness of monuments and well-developed connectivity to boost tourism

Mahesh Sharma Minister of State Tourism & Culture (I/C)