

Integrated Plan For Developing Buddhist Circuits in UP and Bihar: Tourism Ministry
Posted by admin in Travel & Tourism, tags: bodh gaya, Buddhist Circuits, Buddhist Circuits in Bihar, Buddhist Circuits in UP, Nalanda, Rajgir, VaishaliThe tourism ministry has launched a plan for the development of Buddhist circuits in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that would create around 10,000 jobs and indirect employments.
Minister of Tourism and Culture Shripad Yesso Naik along with tourism ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh launched the strategy document investing in the Buddhist Circuit here.
Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, in his maiden budget, had assigned Rs 500 million rupees for the development of five tourist circuit, the Buddhist circuit is one of them.
The total cost of the project will be Rs. 4.5 crore , of which the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the arm of the World Bank, will contribute 40 percent, which will be Rs.1.8 crore.
Ministry of Tourism will contribute Rs.2.25 crore and two state governments will offer five percent each, which is Rs.22.50.
“This is a proud moment for us., We put everything in place to start work on developing circuit take at least two months,” said Mr. Naik.
Onno Ruhl, World Bank’s country director for India said that they chose to work on this project as it would help to generate employment opportunities for the people of those states who need better ways of employing their people.
Mr Ruhl also added that World Bank has been working to eradicate poverty but people need jobs. If I compare India with other countries, it has potential but that is not matching to what the world is offering,” said Mr Ruhl.
He elaborated on the focus towards building better roads, hotels and infrastructure for pilgrims and tourists.
Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali (Bihar), Sarnath, Kushinagar and Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh) to be developed in the first phase.
These are the prestigious sites and routes where Buddha spent his time, grew up and gave his first sermon.
Source: ndtv.com