Agartala, April 25, 2023: several programme have undertaken to popularize adventure tourism in the state, said Tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury while briefing media persons at Civil Secretariat here on Tuesday afternoon.
He said “In the first phase of the Swadesh Darshan-I, the work of 11 tourist centres through the project is almost at the final stage. The destinations are – Agartala, Sepahijala, Melaghar, Udaipur, Amarpur, Mandirghat, Tirthamukh, Narkelkunj, Dumbur, Ambasa, Baramura etc. The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs 82 crore 84 lakh 74 thousand. Of this, Rs 73 crore 74 lakh 57 thousand have been spent so far and the work progress is about 97 percent.”
“In the second phase of Swadesh Darshan-I, Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs 50 crore 38 lakh through this project. Out of this, the release amount of Rs 16 crore 57 lakh has been spent till now and the work progress is about 48.30 percent”, he added.
Through this project, work has been started to make the following tourist places attractive to tourists and they are – Surma Cherra Water Falls in Kamalpur, Shahid Dhananjay Memorial Garden in Jolaibari, Bharat-Bangladesh Maitri Uddyan in Chottakhala of Belonia, Neeramhal in Melaghar, Buddhist Stupa in Sonamura, Jampuihills, highest mountain ridge in Kanchanpur and Unakoti. Work has also been mentioned to beautify Pilak Tourist Centre and Gunabati and Bhubaneswari Temples at Udaipur through the ‘Swadesh Darshan’ (Phase II) project, minister said.
Chowdhury also said “Under ‘Prasad’ Project, efforts have been made to put ‘Mata Tripura Sundari Mandir’ in Udaipur, one of the tourist centres of the state, on the world tourism map through a multi-faceted plan. For this purpose, to develop Tripura Sundari Temple as a spiritual tourist centre and to make it more attractive to tourists from home and abroad, the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 37 lakh 80 crore through ‘Prasad’ project on Janurary 08, 2021. Out of this, the release amount is Rs 21 crore 18 lakh and the progress of the work is about 62 percent.”
Minister further mentioned that there are multiple measures initiated for construction of 49 Log Huts, helipads, introducing motor or speed boats, water scooters, state institute of hotel management, Pushpabanta Palace to be transformed into Maharaja Birendra Kishore Manikya Museum and Cultural Centre, adventure tourism, light and sound service, house boats, etc.
