RAIPUR: In an initiative aimed at conserving archaeological treasures while giving a fresh boost to heritage tourism, the Department of Culture, Chhattisgarh government, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The strategic partnership focuses on the systematic planning and development of visitor amenities and public infrastructure across centrally protected monuments and archaeological sites throughout the state.
“Under the framework of the agreement, the Chhattisgarh government, in close consultation with ASI officials, will draft comprehensive development blueprints. The primary goal is to ensure a seamless, convenient, and enriched experience for visiting domestic and international tourists while preserving Heritage,” said S Bharathidasan, Secretary (Culture and Tourism).
The agreement outlines plans to equip historical sites with a wide array of basic and modern facilities. The essential comforts will include clean drinking water stations, modern restrooms, shaded rest areas, cloakrooms, cafeterias, and designated vehicle parking.
There will be fully equipped visitor information centres, site museums, and informative signage. It also includes dedicated provisions for inclusive tourism, such as Braille-enabled signage and tactile pathways for persons with disabilities, along with aesthetically designed landscape architecture tailored to each location.
The agreement places the utmost priority on preserving the authenticity and original structural integrity of every historical monument, officials stated.
All proposed architectural designs, building materials, and construction methods to strictly align with statutory archaeological acts and regulations. No development work will be executed without formal prior approval from the ASI, ensuring that the historical fabric of the sites suffers zero harm during execution.
To finance the infrastructural push, resources will be pooled through multiple channels, including central financial assistance, state agency funding, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
The long-term operation, management, and maintenance of all developed facilities will remain under the purview of the Chhattisgarh government or its authorised agencies, officials said.
To guarantee effective execution and seamless coordination between conservation needs and tourist infrastructure, a dedicated "Planning and Implementation Committee" will be constituted. The panel will actively monitor every project phase, from initial planning to ground-level development and asset management.