Materialists continue to exploit spiritual 'properties'. Key religious places in Mathura are set to get a facelift with the district administration drawing up a multi-crore plan to attract more tourists. In the first phase, Rs 350 crore would be spent to develop infrastructure at Vrindavan while works in Goverdhan, Barsana, Mathura, Gokul and Baldeo would be carried out in later stages, District Magistrate Anita C Meshram said today.
The administration felt the need for giving a facelift to areas in Mathura as it has failed to be a centre of tourist attraction despite being on the way to Agra, the city of Taj Mahal, he said. "Mathura is a centre of cultural, historical and spiritual wealth...So we are now pressing on improving basic amenities", Meshram said. Apart from widening roads among other measures, the plan also envisages better power supply in 'Parikrama Marg' and other areas. If needed, a power sub-station will be set up in Vrindavan, she added.
Consultants have been appointed for solid waste management and permission has been granted for a 100-bed modern hospital and a police station in Vrindavan where tourists could lodge their complaints, the DM said. The plan is aimed at making Mathura a place of tourist attraction, Shyam Sunder Sharma, chairman of Mathura Municipal Board, said.
