Gujarat gets Rs 22 cr aid

It is past-foward for many tourist destinations in Gujarat with the tourism department being allocated about Rs 22 crore by the Centre for development of six destinations.

"The idea is to develop places, including Saputara, Modhera and Mandvi, and bring them on the international forefront," said Nalin Thakker, joint MD of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL).

Saputara has got Rs 3.78, Mandvi has been allocated Rs 4.28 crore and Dandi has received nod for Rs 3.80 crore from the Centre.

Other tourist spots that will get a facelift include Balasinhor, Modhera and Adalaj. The Centre has allocated Rs 3.45 crore for Balasinhor, Rs 1.95 crore for Modhera of which Rs 75 lakhs will be pumped in by the state and Rs 4.80 crore for Adalaj.

The work in these three places will be over in six to nine months, according to an official of TCGL. Basic amenities like parking facility, roads, cafeteria and site development will be done at all these places, the official said.

Recently, the Centre accorded national heritage status to the Dandi yatra route to mark the 75th anniversary of the historical march taken out by Mahatma Gandhi.

The 386-km long route from the famous Sabarmati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad to Dandi village in Navsari district, has been marked as National Highway No 228 and will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 344 crore.