Tourism project gets a big boost.

Puducherry Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy recently said that the development of tourism in Puducherry would on a par with Goa.

'After Goa, Puducherry would be the next tourist destination in south India,' he said.

Addressing a press conference, Mr.Narayanasamy said that under Swadesh Darshan scheme, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has sanctioned ₹66.34 crore for Heritage Tourism Circuit and ₹40.68 crore for Spiritual Tourism Circuit. “The Ministry has sanctioned a total amount of ₹107.02 crore and has released ₹ 21.40 crore as first instalment,” he said.

He added that initially the Tourism Department, Puducherry, had sent a concept proposal for the development of Heritage Tourism Circuit for ₹120 crore and Spiritual Tourism Circuit for ₹150 crore to the Ministry of Tourism under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

“After the officials from the Ministry inspected the sites and advised to re-cost the proposal. Accordingly, under the Heritage Circuit was revised to ₹81.21 crore and Spiritual Circuit was revised to ₹74.50 crore.

Nearly seven plans under the Heritage Circuit and 10 plans under the Spiritual Circuit have been sanctioned,” he said.

THE HINDU