Aiming to promote Gandhian philosophy in a big way, the Culture Ministry has sought Rs 50 crores from the Centre to develop Gandhi heritage sites across the country.
"We already have launched the Dandi Heritage Corridor Project to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi Yatra at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crores," said a senior ministry official.
"Besides Dandi, there are other places associated with Gandhiji which can be promoted to attract visitors. The
proposal will be finalised soon," said the official.
About the Dandi project, the official said that the ministry is developing 21 places along the 349-km long Sabarmati-Dandi route where Gandhiji had made night halts during the historic Dandi yatra from March 12 to April 6,
1930, when he broke the salt law that intensified the freedom struggle.
There will be simple huts with basic facilities at these night halts. The ambiance will be simple and frugal.
"Because the basic aim is to feel the Gandhian way of living," said the official.
The night halts along the route include Nadiad, Anand, Navsari and the bank of Tapti near Surat are to be developed
shortly. There will be memorial stones at these locations with his speeches engraved on it. Besides, a sidewalk along the route will also be developed for the people who may want to replicate the Dandi March.
At the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Dandi March in 2005, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had wanted such a
project started and accordingly the Ministry launched the Dandi Heritage project.
Apart from these, there will be a grand memorial dedicated to Dandi March at Dandi where statues of Gandhiji
alongwith his followers will be installed.
"We have invited conceptual designs of sculptures from various artistes which have to be shortlisted now," said
the official.
The Dandi Ashram, spreading over 30 acres of land, is being developed as a tourist destination by the Gujarat
government and is likely to be completed within three years.
The government has constituted a 12-member committee which include Tushar Gandhi, Nirmala Deshpande and Satish
Gujral among others. "We seek members' view before finalising any proposal concerning Gandhiji," said the official.
