Gujarat set to improve infrastructure at religious destinations

The Gujarat government has decided to improve the facilities at the places of religious importance to attract more tourists. For this the government has identified five religious destinations aims to portray these as 'improved religious destinations'.

The religious places identified are Somnath, Dakor, Dwaraka, Palitana and Ambaji. Project works amounting to Rs 11 crore are already in progress in Dakor. New approach roads, museum, solid waste management system and development of lake and path are being undertaken now.

"The state is now concentrating on developing the religious places that were neglected so far. We are also evaluating a plan of building a museum spread on 150 acres of land displaying varieties of marble stones," said D K Rao, secretary, pilgrimage department.

Rao was addressing a seminar on religious tourism, organised as part of Vibrant Gujarat Navratri 2004.

The state government is also planning to develop an exclusive website dedicated to pilgrimages situated in the state.

The website will show all major religious places on one platform to help the internal and overseas tourists. The website will be ready by January, 2005.

"The state has the great potential to increase the tourist inflow considering the number of religious and cultural destinations in the state. The government wants to grab the opportunity by developing the infrastructure at identified religious places," said Ashok Bhatt, minister for devsthanam and pilgrimage.