Kolkata: State tourism department will restore 135 heritage monuments managed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to develop heritage circuits, focusing on river tourism. ASI and the department signed an MoU on Wednesday for a collaborative conservation framework.State tourism minister Shankar Ghosh said, “We will renovate these properties using state govt funds, set up light and sound shows, and organise cultural programmes.” He added that sites with high footfalls will be prioritised to highlight Bengal’s royal history.ASI will identify monuments for essential facilities and oversee compliance with Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.Ghosh also announced a ‘Kolkata Key’ app to guide tourists. State govt will showcase local culture at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Jan 7-9 next year. “We are also planning to come up with the ‘Palace of Wheels’ tourism concept to develop heritage tourism circuit,” the minister said.
