Madhya Pradesh Tourism Gets Rs 3.92 Crore Centre Aid

The Centre has agreed to provide financial assistance to Madhya Pradesh for preparing a masterplan for integrated development of places of tourist importance.

A proposal for development of major tourist sites in the state has already been sent to the Centre. The schemes are estimated to cost Rs 5.39 crore, of which Rs 3.92 crore will be contributed by the Centre.

A regional classification committee of the Central government recently visited the state and inspected nine hotels of Tourism Development Corporation for star classification.

The Eleventh Finance Commission had sanctioned Rs 45 crore for development of tourism infrastructure in the state.

The amount will be spent on improving the facilities for tourists at Bhedaghat, Mandla, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Satna, Katni, Bargi and Barmanghat. Facilities for tourists will also be improved at Kanha, Pench and Bandhavgarh National Parks. Sources said that the amount would be utilised in four years.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here the state minister for tourism Ajay Singh confirmed the development and said the Central tourism department had agreed 'in principle' to sanction 16 new schemes of dwelling units for tourists, water sports facility and refurbishment of monuments.

The state government, according to the sources, would develop a tourist complex at Burhanpur. There is a proposal to construct of day-shelter and improving public facilities at Barmanghat along the bank of Narmada in Narsinghpur district and expand the facilities in the units of the Tourism Development Corporation at Ujjain and Pachmarhi.

There are also plans to improve water sport facilities at Shivpuri, Dhubela, Orchha and Chambal area. Monuments at Gwalior and Chanderi will also be refurbished.

Of the 16 schemes sanctioned by the Centre, two will now be implemented in Chhattisgarh. These include construction of a tourist complex at Bilaspur and refurbishment of the monuments at Bhoramdev.

The state government and Confederation of Indian Industry had also worked out a massive plan to develop places of tourist importance.