MoT sanctions ` 50 cr for Puri Yatra

Union Tourism Ministry is trying to fulfill all requirements to facilitate the Puri Rath Yatra 2015 including sanctioning 50 crore for development of tourist infrastructure in Puri.

The Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned an amount of 50 crore for the Nabakalebar Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha. The Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma said the funds have been sanctioned under the newly launched scheme ‘PRASAD’ of the Ministry of Tourism. Dr Sharma said that a museum is being set up by the Ministry of Culture at Lalitgiri. The state will be benefitted by the two circuits i. e. Buddhist Circuit and Coastal Circuit under the new scheme of Swadesh Darshan, he added. Puri will also be developed under the HRIDAY scheme of Ministry of Urban Development, the Minister explained. Dr Sharma said that Orissa will be projected on the international map through its campaigns. The brochure on PRASAD scheme was also released by the Minister.

Developing Coastal circuit

The union government will focus more on promoting the coastal tourism circuit. “India has a long coastline of 7,500 km which possesses rich culture and heritage. If this can be harnessed along with beach tourism, culture and pilgrim tourism, all states particularly coastal states like Odisha will be benefited,” Dr Sharma said. According to the minister, India’s new initiative to deepen ties with Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries will definitely help to promote intraregional trade and tourism among countries of the grouping. Noting that India has a great potential of promoting pilgrim and culture tourism under PRASAD scheme, he said the NDA government is giving more stress on developing, deepening and strengthening relations with the IOR countries which have civilisational links with India. “