Odisha CM Tourism Rebranding bid Finds Echo in PM Modi's Varanasi Constituency

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha’s government’s bid to rebrand its tourism with a one-stop, seamless digital interface has found an echo in Uttar Pradesh’s historic Varanasi city.

Varanasi is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency. In 2019, the Odisha Tourism, the special wing of state’s tourism department, had revamped its website to position it as a one-stop shop for all needs of tourists who could discover, plan, explore and shop on a single platform without navigating to an external site.

Varanasi, the millennial city famed for its exquisite temples, is switching gears to digital tourism with two disruptive digital solutions- Kashi, the one-stop Varanasi portal (kasha.gov.in) and KashiPass (KashiDarshan), a unified e-pass system. Both the digital projects were unveiled by the Prime Minister during his recent visit to Varanasi.

The two solutions have been developed by Odisha-based IT consulting company CSM Tech with an active business footprint in US, Canada, Africa and Dubai. CSM Tech has created the solution architecture in partnership with Varanasi Smart City Ltd. The two paperless, intuitive and interoperable solutions have the potential to transform the tourism landscape of Varanasi.

Priyadarshi Nanu Pany, Founder & CEO of CSM Tech said, “We are proud to be the technology partner for Varanasi Smart City Ltd for the Varanasi web portal (Kashi) and the Unified Tourist Pass System (KashiDarshan). The one-stop portal is a 360-degree window to the historic city and the ultimate Go-To digital resource for an immersive discovery and exploration of Varanasi’s legacy and its transforming landscape. The Unified Tourist Pass eases and enhances the tourist experience by providing convenience, flexibility, cost savings, and improved access to attractions and services. Both these digital solutions will set new benchmarks for digital tourism and take tourist experience to new heights”.

This consolidated web portal for Varanasi is positioned as a one-stop repository for both residents and tourists, promoting the city's rich culture and heritage, supporting local businesses, and enhancing the overall quality of life in the region. Discovery, exploration, and an immersive experience- Varanasi One aggregates everything for the traveler without the need to navigate to an external site. Over and above the legacy data, this portal is a repertoire of Varanasi’s top attractions, events, the changing vibes of a resurgent Smart City, and a To-Do list for visitors.

The KashiPass is a one-stop digital interface that gives you access to more than 15 of Varanasi's most popular attractions, events, and activities. With it, the visitors can create your own special tour without getting tied down to strict schedules. Plus, they can explore the city on your own terms.