Report by OD bureau; New Delhi: Odisha Tourism and Culture Minister Mahswar Mohanty urges centre to extend “Maharaja's Express Classical India Train” and “Mohapari Nirvan Special Train' to cover important destinations of the Buddhist Circuit of Odisha. He urged this to Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay during his meeting with him in New Delhi today.

Mohanty stated that there is a need to improve rail and air connectivity to facilitate travel of both national and international Buddhist tourists to Odisha. Minister Mohanty suggested that the flight between Bhubaneswar and Varanasi, which was discontinued in 1994, should be re-introduced at the earliest.

Mohanty impressed upon the Union Minister for Tourism to support  Odisha's proposal for extension of the “Maharaja's Express Classical India Train” to cover important destinations of the Buddhist Circuit of Odisha. Similarly, the “Mohapari Nirvan Special Train” which presently covers Bihar, UP and Delhi only, should include Odisha as a destination, he stated.

Mohanty also emphasized upon the need to implement the Light and Sound Show  at Udayagiri on priority, for which ITDC has submitted a revised proposal to the Union Ministry of Tourism which is pending sanction. Chief Minister also expressed that similar multimedia laser shows should also be sanctioned for Dhauli and Konark.

 Sahya agreed to sanction the Light and Sound Shows at Udayagiri Caves, Bhubaneswar and Konark. Union Minister also stated that he will pursue with the Ministry of Railways for introduction of special Buddhist Train to Buddhist Circuit in Odisha and it should materialize in the winter season of the current year.

Union Minister also assured funding of an Integrated Tourist Project covering a number of places including Puri, Konark, Chilka, Raghurajpur, Bhubaneswar Old Town, Dhauli and Barkul.  Union Minister assured that his Ministry will extend all possible help and support including providing consultancy services and required finance to make Odisha an important tourist destination and promote the majestic heritage sites of Odisha for shooting of international films.

During the meeting Puri MP Pinaki Mishra and OTDC GM M.R. Patnaik and other officials were presented.