Centre Allocates Rs 97 Crore for Shakti Peeth Park in Udaipur

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, November 29, 2024

The central government has sanctioned Rs 97.70 crore for a major tourism initiative in Tripura. Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced that the project will be developed in the Bandowar area of Udaipur, located in the Gomati district. As part of this ambitious project, replicas of all 51 Shakti Peethas will be installed in a specially designed park to attract tourists. “The Shakti Peeth Park is expected to enhance Udaipur’s reputation as a temple town and draw significant footfall from devotees and tourists,” the Minister stated.

The ongoing renovation and redevelopment work of the Tripura Sundari Temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, is also nearing completion. “Rs 51 crore has already been spent on the temple’s revamp, of which Rs 37 crore was provided by the Centre,” Chowdhury added, highlighting the temple’s year-round popularity among devotees. The funds for the Shakti Peeth Park were allocated under the "Approval of Capital Expenditure" scheme, specifically under Part III of the initiative to develop iconic tourist centers on a global scale. This is part of the Centre's broader special assistance scheme for state capital investment in 2024-2025.

Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha for their support. The central government has allocated Rs 3,295.76 crore for 40 tourism projects across 23 states, with the aim of transforming lesser-known tourist spots into world-class destinations. The initiative seeks to ensure balanced tourism development across the country.

Other northeastern states have also received significant funding. Meghalaya has been granted Rs 99.27 crore for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) infrastructure in Mawkhanu, Shillong, while Sikkim received Rs 97.37 crore for a skywalk project. Projects in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and other northeastern states have also been approved under this scheme.