Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
– Photo: PTI
Expansion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government's decision to set up a National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat is aimed at improving people's understanding of the history of the civilization.
The new project will definitely generate excitement among history lovers and tourists alike, he said in a post titled 'Let's focus on tourism' on social media platform LinkedIn.
PM Modi said such efforts will boost the tourism economy, which is seen as a major force of growth in India. The PM said, “When tourism increases, everyone's income increases. I urge all you leading and respected professionals to explore new opportunities in the tourism sector and share your views on the same with me.”
“This way, we will contribute to a strong economy as well as preserve our rich past for future generations,” he said. This complex will rejuvenate ancient Lothal as a mini replica of the dock city.”
Prime Minister Modi said that Lothal was once a vibrant confluence of civilizations, ideas and objects and the excavations reveal its role as an important maritime centre. He said that the docks, built thousands of years ago, reflect the spirit of ingenuity of our ancestors.
'After independence, no attention was paid to historical sites'
The Prime Minister said that its advanced engineering and urban planning astonishes modern observers. This is just a sample of the talent of our past. He said, “Regretfully, in the decades after independence, we have ignored many aspects of our history and many historical sites, due to which our rich past is being lost.”
However, a change in this trend has been seen in the last 10 years, Modi said. He said that it is in this spirit that his government has decided to create a vibrant National Maritime Heritage Complex. He said that this will develop our understanding of the history of civilization.
He said, “At the center of this complex will stand an iconic lighthouse museum, which is 77 meters high and will be the tallest of its kind in the world.” Let us tell you that Lothal falls in Dholka taluka of Ahmedabad district and is a national park. Located close to Highway-47 and State Highway-8. The site is surrounded by three villages: Sargwala, Utelia and Gundi. Here agriculture is the main source of income and business.
