When Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Varanasi on Saturday, he would seek financial assistance from Japan to improve the infrastructure particularly in the Buddhist Circuit.
A senior official told The Pioneer that Yadav will have a one-to-one meeting with Abe at Taj Ganges and then he will accompany the Japanese Premier and Indian PM Narendra Modi to the Dashwashvmedh Ghat to watch Ganga Aarti.
“In the meeting, Yadav is likely to seek financial help from the Japanese government to improve the infrastructure particularly in the Buddhist circuit. The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has already given loan for the development of infrastructure to connect Buddhist Circuit in UP but this loan is inadequate as it caters to just a 74 km long stretch,” the official said.
The funds would be sought under the UP Buddhist Circuit Development project. “The JICA channels loans through the Union Ministry of Tourism. Financial help would be sought for construction roads to connect Sarnath in Varanasi, Kapilavastu on the UP-Nepal border, Shravasti and Sankisa in Farukkhabad,” the official said.
Apart from roads, there will be construction of storm water drainage system in Kushinagar and Shravasti, site development, enhancement and promoting community participation in tourism promotion.
“The loans provided by JICA are generally soft loans with repayment spread over for 25 years. But JICA is expected to give loan for Bullet Train connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad for a 50 year term. We want that the loan for the Buddhist Circuit also be given on similar term of period which will definitely help the state government,” the official said.