Development Of Mahendragiri Under Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Dharmendra Seeks Odisha CM’s Intervention

Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday requested  Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take necessary steps for the development of the historic Mahendragiri hill in Gajapati district, under Ramayan Circuit of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

In a letter to the Odisha CM, he said that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture has identified various sites in Odisha for development of tourism facilities under its Swadesh Darshan Scheme, namely Mahendragiri under Ramayan Circuit; Puri under Krishna Circuit; Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara under Coastal Circuit.

The Ministry, which had sanctioned Rs 70.82 crore for the development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara under the Coastal Circuit of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2016-17, had requested the state government to submit a proposal for the development of Mahendragiri. However, the state government is yet to submit the proposal.

“As Mahendragiri has huge potential for the development of socio-cultural tourism owing to its religious significance, the tourism development will create many jobs in the region and drive economic development for the people,” the Union Minister said, requesting the CM to personally intervene and direct the concerned department to submit the Mahendragiri proposal under Ramayan Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

Situated in the Eastern Ghats at an elevation of 1501 metres, Mahendragiri is associated with the Ramayana as Mahendra Parvata.