RAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday clicked photographs of a magnificent tiger during his visit to
Central India
's largest man-made jungle safari at Naya
Raipur
after formally opening
Nandanvan Zoo
and Safari in the new state capital of
Chhattisgarh
.
Impressed by jungle safari park in heart of Naya Raipur, a state-of-the-art new capital developed after Chhattisgarh came into existence in November 2000, Modi said, "I was taken to jungle safari by chief minister
Raman Singh. It's one of his favourite projects that has huge potential to attract tourists."
Addressing the gathering during inauguration of Chhattisgarh's 16th Statehood Day celebrations, he said, "I am sure more people will come to Naya Raipur to visit jungle safari. Chhattisgarh has got an inbuilt strength for developing tourism. This state's handicrafts, forests and vast natural resources has the potential to attract tourists to Chhattisgarh," he said.
Modi said, "At a time, when tourists are getting attracted to the concept of back to basics, the state government should make efforts and take initiatives to develop its eco-tourism potential for sustainable development and generating employment opportunities. Tourism is a sector which can generate huge employment opportunities with less investment. With one tenth investment of setting up an industrial unit, tourism could generate more opportunities for all sectors, including the poor to make a livelihood." After his arrival at Swami Vivekananda airport, Prime Minister Modi reached Nandanvan Zoo and jungle safari to declare it open and went around the sprawling park and safari, spread over in an area of 800 acres of land in the city.
Later, PM unveiled Central Boulevard premises at Naya Raipur, which has been christened as Ekatma Path. He also unveiled a 15-feet tall statue of BJP ideologue and philosopher Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, installed in front of capitol complex. He also launched BRTS air conditioned bus service to be operated between old Raipur and the new capital city.
Modi also launched 'Saur Sujala Yojana' aimed at providing solar pumps to 51,000 farmers for irrigation purposes, particularly at those fields where it's difficult to provide electricity connection. Besides, he also felicitated several janpad panchayat representatives and two districts for making their respective areas open defecation free (ODF) under Swachh Bharat Mission.