The project for development of Chhindwara as a Tourist Circuit in Madhya Pradesh, with Central Financial Assistance from Government of India was recently launched by the Union Minister of Tourism (Independent charge), K. Chiranjeevi and the Union Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kamal Nath. The Ministry of Tourism is continuously striving for creating better infrastructure, developing new tourism destinations and bringing them on the national and international tourism map.
While speaking on the occasion at Khedapati, Parasia, Chiranjeevi acknowledged the active role played by the Union Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and informed that the Ministry of Tourism had included development of Chhindwara in the State initially as a tourist destination, in consultation with the State Government and sanctioned Central Financial Assistance of Rs. 494.00 lakh in 2012-13.
Chiranjeevi further informed that in view of the immense tourism potential in Chhindwara the scope of the tourist destination development project was agreed to be enhanced as the development of Chhindwara as a tourist circuit, with the inclusion of the famous Khedapati Mandir, Chakravyuha water falls in the Ananjangaon Harrai, development of surroundings of Pataleshwar Mandir, Chhote Mahadev Temple Tamia, Sharda Ghat Burman, Narsinghpur and Mundhara, Distt. Seoni etc, thereby considering additional funds of approximately Rs. 300.00 lakh.
He further stated that the financial assistance to the State Government of Madhya Pradesh by his Ministry, which was Rs. 180 crore during the entire 11th Plan went upto Rs. 207.00 crore in the year 2012-13 alone during the 12th Five Year Plan. Among various tourism development projects sanctioned by his Ministry in 2012-13 are included three Mega projects namely; the Development of Bundelkhand region, the Development of Ujjain circuit and the Development of Jabalpur region. In the current financial year 2013-14, the State Government has prioritized eight projects at an approximate estimated cost of Rs 110.00 crore for the development of tourism infrastructure in the State. Chiranjeevi informed that during the current financial year his Ministry has already sanctioned four tourism projects amounting to Rs.46.60 crore, namely, Mega Destination Development of Indore; Development of Vindhya Circuit Development Phase II; Destination Development of Nemawar; and Development of Panchmarhi, Matkuli-Pipariya and Sultanpur as tourist circuit.
Taking into cognizance the steps being taken by the State Governments to tackle the utmost important safety and security of tourists visiting India, Chiranjeevi stressed that this issue ranks very high in the agenda of priority of his Ministry. He further added that the Ministry of Tourism is also committed to promote tourism and develop tourism infrastructure to create pleasant and memorable tourist experience.
