Mahesh Sharma, the Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (I/C) and Civil Aviation has announced that new initiatives will be launched on ‘Suhshasan Divas’ on 25th December this year to promote tourism in the country.
He said that tourism will be used to fight terrorism and generate employment in the country. He once again emphasized the need for beautification, security and cleanliness of monuments and well-developed connectivity to boost tourism.
Sharma also held a meeting with the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh in which several issues were raised related to promotion of tourism and culture in the state. The Chief Minister requested the Minister to include the important historical site of Sirpur in the Buddhist circuit. The Union Tourism and Culture Minister 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. He also assured that the Rs 48 crores 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.
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 Mahesh Sharma assured all possible help.
The Minister also sanctioned Swamy Vivekanand’s statue for Swamy Vivekanand airport of Raipur. Earlier, Sharma dedicated the third aero-bridge at the Raipur airport to the nation.
