Khajuraho all set to enhance its tourist appeal

Khajuraho, Sep 15 (UNI) This historical town, famous for erotic sculptures on its millennium-old temples, is all set to witness a spurt in tourist arrivals as Indian today resumed daily flights on the Delhi-Khajuraho-Varanasi route and the Madhya Pradesh government announced its decision to implement several plans for the revival of tourism.

Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Yashoda Raje Scindia expressed happiness at the resumption of the air link and said a long-pending demand of the people had been fulfilled.

Speaking to newspersons, Mrs Scindia raised the issue of rail link to the town and said she had taken up the matter with the Centre. ''Railways play an important role in developing a place as a tourist destination,'' she added.

She said the development of tourism is directly related to infrastructure and called upon government agencies --both at the Centre and the state-- to work for the upgradation of the facilities and added that road and rail communication at various places in the state needs to be improved in order to achieve its full potential.

The nearest rail connection is in Jhansi, 175 km away.

Due to lack of connectivity, the town has not been able to exploit its famous 11th century temples, built by the Chandela dynasty. A total of 85 temples was built, of which only 22 survive.

Throwing light on various measures taken for the promotion of tourism in Madhya Pradesh, Mrs Scindia said that an agreement will be signed for linking all places of tourist interest in the state.

She said luxury buses will be introduced shortly in all the important routes of the state. The private sector has been invited to help in the improvement of tourism infrastructure. All grievances of the tourism industry in the state will be discussed and steps taken to improve the visibility of Madhya Pradesh as a tourist destination as a whole and Khajuraho in particular.

Several people associated with the tourism industry were present on the occasion.

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