Pilgrimage tourism, one of growth engines of country's economic development: Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhapati

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 2 (ANI): Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to develop temple corridors throughout the country, Governor of Mizoram Hari Babu Kambhapati said that 'pilgrimage tourism' is one of the growth engines of the country's economic development.
"The efforts of Honourable Prime Minister to develop these temple corridors is to encourage pilgrimage tourism. Pilgrimage tourism is one of the growth engines for economic development," Kambhapati said speaking to ANI on Thursday at Varanasi.
The Mizoram Governor had come to Varanasi to attend a seminar on the "Contribution of Temple Economy and Religious Area Development to National Progress" organized in the Trimbakeshwar Auditorium of Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor.
Speaking about his experience of visiting Varanasi for the first time, the Governor said, "I am visiting Varanasi for the first time. I had darshan of Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath temple. The development in and around Kashi Vishwanath Temple was very nice. People will definitely be attracted towards the temple."
Listing out how the Narendra Modi government has given a boost to temple economics, Kambhapati said, "I feel that temple economics will play a major role in shaping India as Viksit Bharat. In addition to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the long-standing issue at Ayodhya is being dissolved, the magnificent temple for Lord Rama was built there."
"Similarly the Kamakhya corridor in the state of Assam, development of Puri Jagannath corridor at Puri in Odisha..I think all these development will definitely encourage pilgrimage tourism and devotees will be able to visit all these places without much difficulty. I think this will be one very good step for achieving economic growth," he added.
Explaining how the economic development of an area gets a boost due to pilgrimage tourism, the Governor said, "Normally, whichever city has a good temple, I think the economy of the region will depend on the temple. The business is associated with tourists, taxi drivers, hotel accommodations, restaurants, transport facilities...everything will be linked to the temple. Therefore the temple economy plays a very important role today in economic development."
Speaking about the new changes in Mizoram, the Governor shared that due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, the first railway line may be completed in the state in eight to nine months.
"The state (Mizoram) is on the development trajectory. I think the Honorable Prime Minister's vision, that all the northeastern states should get a railway line will come true. So far, we don't have a railway line in Mizoram. Now the railway line is under construction. Within eight to nine months, the railway line may be completed and the first train may come to Mizoram," Kambhapati said.
On the development of national highways in the state, the Governor said, "About Rs 18,000 crores worth projects have been sanctioned for National Highways development for the state of Mizoram. If all the roads are completed, I think the face of Mizoram will change."
The seminar at Varanasi was organized by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust in collaboration with India Think Council. The Mizoram Governor was the chief speaker of the program who has come to Varanasi on a two-day religious visit.
The Governor paid a visit to Ayodhya Thursday morning with his family and after visiting Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple, he performed Rudrabhishek of Bhoomeshwar Mahadev. Following this, the Governor visited the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and had darshan of Ganga. (ANI)