The Union Tourism Ministry, along with the UP Tourism Department, is set to develop a village in Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s constituency of Rae Bareli as a rural tourism destination. The project, which was approved in 2006 under the 11th Five-Year Plan, had been kept on hold before the Union ministry showed interest once again.

The village, Bhitargaon, was chosen by a committee headed by the Tourism Secretary for its scenic beauty, situated as it is on a canal. It also has a popular temple, which is believed to be more than 100 years old.

D K Burman, a Joint Director in UP Tourism, said that, “the project was sanctioned in 2006. We had sent proposals to the Government of India and the Indian Tourism Development Corporation for the development of this village, but the project was stalled. With the Centre once again taking interest, we hope that the project will be revived.”

The village will be developed to attract both domestic and international tourists so as to give them a flavour of rural life.

Apart from developing basic infrastructure like roads and a tourist guesthouse, the project includes involving local villagers and developing facilities so that tourists can stay as paying guests in their homes.

The project also includes developing craft skills of the local villagers, which could open up employment opportunities, and building a tourist complex.

“We have got most of the approvals and have zeroed in on the agencies that will be working for the infrastructure development,” said Burman, adding that they already have Rs 39 lakh sanctioned in 2006.

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