Bhubaneswar, Mar 31: A total of 348 sites in Odisha have been accorded tourist spot status, said Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda.
Replying to a question by MLA Sanatan Mahakud in the State government, Panda said infrastructure development works have been started at these tourist spots. The Minister informed that the government had spent Rs 50 crore for infrastructure development in tourists sites in 2011-12, 70 crore in 2012-13, Rs 91 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 70 crore in 2014-15.
On conditions for according tourist spot status to a site, the Minister said there 10 points including inflow of tourists, are taken into consideration. District level committees headed by concerned ADMs and with tourist officers as convenors send proposals to the State government basing on these points, he said. The Minister said the government has a proposal to set up a ropeway at Bhimakunda at a cost of Rs one crore and talks at appropriate forums are on.
He further stated that the Central government, by sidelining tourist spots and destination issues, has launched a Swadesh Darshan programme under which seven tourist circuits have been included.
