The Hindu Business Line : Rs 680-cr Japanese loan to UP for Buddhist circuit

To develop and promote places of Buddhist interest in Uttar Pradesh, the Japan Bank of International Corporation (JBIC) has sanctioned a soft loan of Rs 680 crore to the State Government.

The funds would be deployed to build roads and communication and information infrastructure and improve facilities at half a dozen well-known places of Buddhism, including Sarnath, Kapilavastu, Sariska and Kushanagar, said Mr Kawkab Hameed, the UP Tourism Minister.

The UP Tourism Development Corporation, which has a turnover of Rs 120 crore, plans to start implementing the massive project this year. The State has already got Thai Airways linking Varanasi thrice a week and hopes airlines from Japan, Korea and South Asian countries would fly in tourists to the Buddhist circuit.

OTHER CIRCUITS

The State Tourism Department has also firmed up plans to develop the Mahabharata circuit around Hastinapur and all known places. A Sufi circuit will be developed in collaboration with the Delhi and Rajasthan Governments so that pilgrim can visit all the dargahs, Mr Hameed told newspersons here today.

On its most famous Taj circuit, Mr Hameed said the Taj Mahotsav would be celebrated during February 18-27 in Shilpgram, Agra. Also after 20 years, the facility of night viewing of the Taj is being provided to tourists on 5 nights in full moon. An Indian tourist has to pay Rs 510, while the foreign tourist Rs 750, he said.

The UP Tourism Department will soon request the Supreme Court, under whose jurisdiction the Taj Monument is at present, to allow the tourists to go up to 127 metres instead of the 323 metres allowed during nights. In addition, tickets will be allotted the same day instead 24 hours in advance, he said.

OTHER PLANS

Apart from the ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela, for which it has made elaborate arrangements, the State Tourism Department plans to celebrate 150 years of the war of Indian Independence this year. A martyr's memorial has been reconstructed in the memory of the 1857 event, the first freedom struggle, which started in Meerut, Mr Hameed said.

Varanasi, which is considered the oldest living city in the world, will soon have the facility of river cruise on the ghats of the Ganges.

The Minister was here to watch the Sound and Light Show at the Golkonda Fort, which they plan to replicate at the Agra Fort.

The State attracted 13 crore domestic tourists and 11 lakh foreign tourists during 2006 to its wide range of tourism places. About 50,000 foreign tourists visited the Taj Mahal, he added.

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