Gujarat govt allocates over ₹850 cr to develop secondary pilgrimage sites

Updated: Aug 17th, 2024

Gujarat pilgrimage sites

To boost the tourism sector, the Gujarat government is investing heavily on developing secondary pilgrimage sites around major pilgrimage centres. It has so far planned development works worth approximately ₹857.14 crore at secondary pilgrimage sites around major religious places.

Secretary of the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board R R Raval stated that the development work is not just confined to the temples and religious structures but also includes overhauling of the nearby premises. The premises are being developed under the master plan to accommodate visitors over the next 20-25 years. Moreover, efforts are being made to ensure that the pilgrimage sites appeal to all the age groups.

Raval said that the scope of development work covers 163 secondary pilgrimage centres with a total expenditure of ₹857.14 crore. While 57 projects worth ₹70.19 crore have already been completed, the development work at 76 projects (worth over ₹655 crore expenditure) is under progress.

A total of 24 projects worth ₹52.08 crore are in the planning stage. The department recently added development of six new projects worth ₹79.10 crore in the current budget.

Development of pilgrimage sites around key centres such as Ambaji and Bahucharaji is progressing with a total expenditure of ₹216.51 crore. The projects include the completion of the first phase of development at Koteshwar Mahadev Temple at a cost of ₹3 crore, beautification of Rinchhadiya Mahadev and its adjacent lake at ₹53.95 crore and development works at Telia Dam at an expenditure of ₹12.10 crore. Additional development works at Koteshwar Mahadev Temple, Kamakshi Temple, Kumbharia Jain Tirth, and other religious sites, for ₹33 crore, are currently in the planning stage. Under the Central Government’s ‘PRASAD’ Yojana, projects worth ₹33.46 crore, including the establishment of a tourist facility centre, are on. In Bahucharaji, development projects valued at ₹81 crore are being planned.

At Pavagadh pilgrimage site and its surrounding areas, development projects worth ₹187.49 crore are underway. Development projects worth ₹121 crore have been completed and projects worth ₹12.91 crore are in progress at Manchi Chowk. These include the construction of an office block, stone flooring at Chachar Chowk, multi-level parking, entrance gates, signage, firefighting facilities, and water supply systems. At Champaner, road and parking development projects for ₹42 crore will commence soon. A tent city is being constructed near Vada Talav in Pavagadh for ₹11.58 crore.

Development projects worth ₹318.13 crore are being carried out at pilgrimage sites in Porbandar, Kachchh, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Patan districts. These include development works at Krishna-Rukshmani pilgrimage site in Madhavpur,Porbandar worth ₹42.43 crore; ₹32.70 crore development project at Mata no Madh pilgrimage site in Kachchh; and ₹30 crore development project at Narayan Sarovar in Kachchh. Additionally, a grand project is under consideration for Dwarka Corridor in Devbhumi Dwarka. Master planning worth ₹155 crore for the development of Bet Dwarka is also underway, with projects worth ₹25 crore. In Siddhpur, Patan district, development projects worth ₹33 crore are on.

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