State wants role in Buddhist train plan

The Centre’s investment of around Rs 12 crore in development of the Buddhist tourism circuit in Orissa may be wasted if the special Buddhist tourism train which covers most parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi does not pass through Orissa, feels JK Mohanty, chairman of the Orissa chapter of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).

“Although the Union ministry of tourism has invested a huge amount of money for development of the Buddhist circuit in Orissa, unfortunately the Mahapari Nirvan express, the special Buddhist train does not touch Orissa. In view of this the investment made by the tourism ministry on this Buddhist sector will be a waste if corrective action is not taken immediately”, says Mohanty in a letter addressed to Ambika Soni, the Union minister for tourism.

In the letter, Mohanty has also suggested that the special Buddhist tourism train which leaves from Delhi needs to arrive in Bhubaneswar.

It may be noted that the Union ministry of tourism has sanctioned Rs 7.4 crore for an integrated development of the Buddhist tourism circuit of Langudi–Lalitgiri–Ratnagiri–Udayagiri in Orissa. The ministry had also sanctioned Rs 4.88 crore towards development of a peace park and an amphitheatre at Dhauli, near Bhubaneswar.