At Vadodara Symposium, preserving heritage, stretching skyline in focus

In a four-part discussion, including Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation, Ease of Doing Business, Infrastructure Development and Tourism, the symposium saw officials of the district administration and the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) involved in talks with experts and citizens to “collectively shape the future of the city”. Shukla also announced four separate symposiums in June to prepare a ground-action report, which will finally be converted to individual white papers.

Addressing the event, Sourav Pardhi, Managing Director of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL), said the government has plans to “revive” Vadodara’s heritage while turning it into a tourist centre for upcoming “tourism circuits” in Central Gujarat.

“Vadodara’s history and its old heritage are at the center of the tourism that can be developed in the city. Going forward, Vadodara has immense potential to be developed as a heritage city as well as a centre for cultural events , especially since it is home to the grand celebrations during Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri… Whenever tourists arrive to visit the Statue of Unity (in Ekta Nagar, Narmada), they ensure their starting point is Vadodara. The government is also developing a Mahisagar tourism circuit with the dinosaur fossil park. Vadodara will serve as a tourist destination hub,” Pardhi said.