Facelift For Ajanta With Japanese Aid

The Ajanta-Ellora conservation and tourism development project will get a major fillip with the second round of funding of Rs. 300 crore from Japan, making it the largest ever tourism funding project in Asia. According to MTDC officials, talks between the Japanese Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC), Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of India and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) were concluded in New Delhi recently.

The Government of Japan selected only seven projects for assistance to India this year and the Ajanta-Ellora conservation project was one of them. It is also the only tourism project to be selected. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs. 360 crore. Of this, Rs. 300 crore will be funded by the JBIC and the remaining Rs. 60 crore will be brought in by the respective implementing agencies such as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Airports Authority of India and the state government’s five agencies. MTDC will be the nodal agency for seven implementing agencies, officials said. The project is to be completed within five years, MTDC managing director Mr. Ashish Kumar Singh told Deccan Herald.

This time the funds are being utilised not only for the restoration of the Ajanta and Ellora caves but also for the entire cave circuit of Maharashtra, which stretches from Mumbai to Aurangabad. The project will focus on the preservation and restoration of heritage monuments in and around Aurangabad. Aurangabad airport will also get a major boost, as it will now become an international airport. The proposed activity for the Pitalkora caves, Aurangabad caves, Bibi ka Maqbara, Daulatabad caves and Patnadevi temple includes structural restoration of the monuments, chemical conservation of the paintings and artifacts among others.

Cpurtesy Deccan Herald