Facelift for Chamundi Hills inches closer to reality under PRASHAD scheme

Chamundi Hills in Mysuru is without doubt one of the websites in Karnataka that has been thought of for growth underneath the scheme which goals to supply sustainable spiritual tourism.
| Picture Credit score: M.A. SRIRAM

After years of backwards and forwards between the Karnataka authorities and the Centre, there may be lastly some progress on the event of Chamundi Hills underneath the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Religious Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme of the Central authorities. The Division of Tourism has referred to as a young for the event of public facilities there.

Chamundi Hills in Mysuru is without doubt one of the websites in Karnataka that has been thought of for growth underneath the scheme which goals to supply sustainable spiritual tourism, together with the Sri Renuka Yellamma temple in Saundatti in Belagavi and the Paapnaash Shiv Temple in Bidar. The scheme appears to be like to satisfy the wants of devotees in addition to vacationers, and construct facilities that will encourage each the teams to go to the location extra usually.

Among the many issues which were proposed for the Chamundi Hills venture are consuming water and bathroom services, a queue mandapa across the temple premises to make sure common and unhindered pilgrim movement, stone columns alongside the stretch, redesigned steps of the hill, a multi-purpose corridor, footwear stands, a fountain the round Mahishasura circle, a police sales space, and so on.

Whereas a young was first referred to as a number of months in the past, the estimated price of growth got here as much as ₹108 crore, which is ₹60 crore greater than the Central authorities’s allocation for the venture.

“We despatched the proposal again to the Central authorities for the discharge of the extra quantity, however they didn’t comply with do it. We then requested the State authorities to supply the additional funds and acquired their approval. Now, the Centre will give ₹48 crore for the venture, whereas the State will give ₹60 crore,” defined Salma Fahim, Principal Secretary, Tourism Division. She added, “We hope that this time we are able to award the tender and the work can lastly start.”

There had been a substantial delay within the launch of funds from the Centre for the Chamundi Hills venture which led to tensions throughout the South India Tourism Conclave held in September 2024 in Bengaluru. H.Okay. Patil, Minister of Tourism, Regulation and Parliamentary Affairs, had mentioned that “it was a matter of embarrassment.” The Union Minister had then retorted saying that there was some work pending on the State’s half.

Aside from the PRASHAD scheme, Chamundi Hills has additionally been included within the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan 2.0., with an allotted price of ₹23 crore. It will embody a Tonga Journey Heritage Expertise Zone and an Ecological Expertise Zone.