OREANDA-NEWS. Dr Mahesh Sharma , the Minister of State for Culture(Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation has announced  that new initiatives will be launched on ‘Suhshasan Divas’ on 25th December this year to promote tourism in the country. Dr Sharma was speaking to reporters at Raipur airport during his official visit to Chhattisgarh today. The Minister said that tourism will be used to fight terrorism and generate employment in the country. He once again emphasized the need for beautification, security and cleanliness of monuments and well-developed connectivity to boost tourism.

Dr Mahesh Sharma  also held a meeting with  the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh in which several issues were raised related to promotion of tourism and culture in the state. The Chief Minister requested the Minister to include the important historical site of Sirpur in the Buddhist circuit. The Union Tourism and Culture Minister promised that the Centre will seriously look into the demand to include Sirpur in its ambitious Buddhist Circuit project. He also assured that funds will  be sanctioned for Sirpur site development,  especially for the construction of a museum. He also assured that the Rs 48 crores proposal will be sanctioned on priority for the 7 amphitheater projects in the state for which DPRs have already been sent by the state government.

The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister also requested that one more tourist circuit should be sanctioned to Chhattisgarh in addition to the Bastar circuit already sanctioned. He also proposed that an international Tribal festival should be held in Raipur . The State Tourism and Culture Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Ajay Chandrakar was also present at the meeting.

In the Civil Aviation sector, the Chief Minister raised the issues of  upgrading  Raipur airport  into an international airport, the issue of  Bilaspur airport as well as raising Jagdalpur as green field airport to which Dr Mahesh Sharma assured all possible help.

The Minister also sanctioned Swamy Vivekanand’s statue for Swamy Vivekanand airport of Raipur.

Earlier Dr Sharma dedicated the third aero-bridge at the Raipur airport to the nation. In the evening, he attended  as  Chief Guest  the closing ceremony of Raipur Literature festival  along with the Governor of Goa, Smt  Mridula Sinha as the Guest of Honour.