Puri/Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for an integrated tourism development project aimed at transforming the heritage village of Raghurajpur into a premier cultural and heritage tourism destination.
Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Parida described Raghurajpur as the “heart of Odisha’s art and culture” and said the project would usher in a new phase in the village’s tourism development.
The minister said the government aims to take Raghurajpur’s renowned Pattachitra, Gotipua dance and other traditional art forms to the global stage while creating an international-standard heritage and cultural tourism destination.
Under the integrated development plan, the Tourism Department will invest Rs 23 crore to upgrade infrastructure in the village, improve facilities for artisans and strengthen tourist amenities. The project will also focus on showcasing and promoting traditional art forms, including Pattachitra, Gotipua, wood carving and terracotta crafts.
The initiative is expected to improve the overall experience of visitors from India and abroad while creating better opportunities and support systems for local artists and artisans. It is also aimed at strengthening Raghurajpur’s position on the state’s cultural tourism map and giving greater global visibility to its traditional crafts.
Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattnaik, Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida, Additional Secretary of the Tourism Department Saroj Kumar Pradhan, departmental officials, local representatives, artists and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
