In keeping with its schedule, the MP State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) launched air-conditioned bus service from Indore to Mandu on Sunday. The service is likely to see a rise in tourists' number in coming days. Prior to the service, there was no direct bus connectivity to the scenic place.

In its bid to promote tourism in the state, the corporation has decided to connect all tourist spots of the state with nearby district centre. On all days, a 14-seater AC bus service will start from the corporation regional centre at Indore at 7am and reach Mandu at 10am. In the evening, it will start at 5pm from Mandu and reach Indore by 8pm. Till now, there was no direct connectivity from Indore to Mandu. People had to either hire a private vehicle or first go to Dhar then Mandu. 

MPSTDC chairman Dr Mohan Yadav said connectivity was a major obstacle in tourism promotion in the state. The department has planed to connect all tourist places of the state with each other. Now, they are planning to connect the tourist spot with nearby district place.

"Right now we have started with the 14-seater bus, but depending on the demand and number of passenger we can introduce big bus," said Yadav.

Health minister Mahendra Hardia said Malwa region offers tourism potential as the region has many places of scenic locations. Hardia said place like Kathiwada near Jhabua has beautiful natural location. But it has no connectivity.

Mayor Krishnamurari Moghe demanded that the department should also run similar bus services for places like Ujjain and Omkareshwar.

"The department should run special tourist buses for those who want to visit these places," Moghe said, adding every day hundreds of people from the city visit these places.

At the end, Yadav said the government is serious about developing tourism in the state.

"Some time back we started air taxi service, which is now going to connect tiger reserve forests-Kanha and Bandhavgarh and now we are connecting other tourist spot with bus service," Yadav said, adding that despite having so many tourist places state lags behind in number of tourist only because of poor connectivity.

Now, the corporation is working to boost tourism in the state, he said.

TOI