And Gujarat has been flourishing!
Five of ‘India’s first’ attractions were launched in Gujarat within two years of Modi taking up office, to make it more tourist and business friendly.
1. India’s first aviation Park
(This image is for representational purposes only and not of the actual attraction)
India’s first Aviation Park will be set up near Bagodara village, about 30 kilometres from Ahmedabad. The park will be built by government-owned GUJSAIL (Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Ltd), who plan to create a complete Aviation Sector eco-system that will help educate students and professionals about the potential of the aviation sector.
The aviation park will feature a theatre, an info-tech area, airshows and aviation related adventure sports. Professionals too can benefit from the parks aerospace management school, an aircrew training school, a helipad and a landing strip that are part of GUJSAIL’s grand plan.
2. India’s first disabled friendly beach
(This image is for representational purposes only and not of the actual attraction)
Gujarat has taken the first step toward extending their support to the disabled community in a country that mostly lacks the basic infrastructure to aid the physically challenged. The Gujarat government has already begun the first phase of work to equip a one-kilometre stretch of the Vithal Beach with disabled-friendly facilities and will be open to the public by June this year.
The beach will have no barriers or stairs to enter; instead, they will build ramps and railings that lead up to the beach, the walls of food counters and help desks will be lowered.
The total cost for the first phase of the project is estimated at ₹5 crore. The plan is to equip 3 kilometres of beach with disabled-friendly facilities and the second phase for the remaining 2 kilometres will be carried out later.
3. India’s first medical device park
(This image is for representational purposes only and not of the actual attraction)
In a bid to make India self-sufficient in the field of medical devices, the central government plans to set up India’s first medical device park in Gujarat. The park will consist of a ‘Centre of Excellence’ that will conduct research based on medical devices.
India currently imports over 80 per cent of its high-end medical devices, spending about ₹23000 crore on medical imports. A dedicated medical device research park would help reduce the import dependency.
4. India’s first business club
(This image is for representational purposes only and not of the actual attraction)
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) will house India’s first Business Club. The Business Club will be part of a five-star hotel and will be built in the non-SEZ area of GIFT City, in Gujarat. The hotel and club would broadly cover around 300 hotel rooms and 40 club rooms respectively.
The business club will have private meetings rooms, conference rooms, a cafeteria, dining rooms and recreational lounges. A sports centre will also be built to entertain the business community and their families.
5. India’s first coral garden
(This image is for representational purposes only and not of the actual attraction)
In an effort to preserve the coral species and restore the coral reef, India will set up the first ever coral park in the coastal town of Mithapur in Gujarat. The project will be funded by the Gujarat forest department and will be set up by the Wildlife Trust India (WTI) and Tata Chemicals. The Mithapur Coral Garden will house nearly all the coral species found in the Gulf of Kutch.
The park will also serve as a tourist attraction with planned activities such as wading, snorkelling, diving and boating.