In a bid to give fillip to tourism in Gujarat, the State Government has sent 34 proposals to the Centre, including those aiming towards development of integrated Mahatma Gandhi and Buddhist tourism circuits here.

These proposals were sent in the last three years seeking a combined grant of Rs 785.13 crore for projects including the Mahatma Gandhi and Buddhist tourism circuits, besides a Tourism Development Institute, the Gujarat Tourism Minister, Mr Jaynarayan Vyas, said.

“The Centre has so far supported our projects for tourism promotion on Dandi Heritage Route, Integrated Gandhi circuit, Dwarka, Tourism Development Institute and Kabir Vad in Bharuch, along the banks of river Narmada,” Mr Vyas told PTI.

The state tourism department has proposed to develop Devni Mori in Sabarkantha, Taranga and Vadnagar in Mehsana as an integrated Buddhist circuit and asked the Centre for Rs 10.11-crore aid for it. It has also sought a grant of Rs 50 crore for the development of Integrated Gandhi circuit spread across Porbandar, Rajkot and Ahmedabad.

“As part of the proposal for Gandhi Mega circuit, the Kirti Mandir birth place of Mahatma Gandhi in Porbandar’s connecting link to Kasturba Memorial shall be re-developed,” a state tourism department official said.

“A heritage walk route is also proposed to be developed in Porbandar as part of the mega circuit plan,” the official said.

Basic facilities for tourism promotion shall be developed near Mahamta Gandhi Vidyalaya in Rajkot where the Father of the Nation had taken informal education, and beautification of Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad shall be undertaken, he added.

The Centre so far has allocated a grant of Rs 21.19 crore for developing basic tourist facilities in Dwarka, town of Lord Krishna, Ambaji, a temple town, besides building infrastructure facilities in Tarnetar, Pavagadh, Devni Mori and Patan, an official said.

The State Government has forwarded a proposal to the Centre for integrated development of Dwarka seeking an aid of over Rs 83 crore. The plan is to renovate Dwarka, apart from development of sun set point, a bridge connecting Okha and Bet Dwarka.

“It has given its in principle approval for development of Kabir Vad in Bharuch district,” Mr Vyas said.

The State Government has proposed to develop basic facilities like approach roads, food courts at Shukla Tirth, Angareshwar and Maglashewar, along the banks of river Narmada with a combined cost of Rs 50 crore as part of proposal for ‘Kabir Vad’.

The state tourism department has exuded confidence that proposals for setting up a Hotel Management Institute in Patan, besides integrated Gandhi Mega Circuit, are likely to get the Central aid soon.

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