India plans to develop Modi's tea stall into tourist attraction

The Indian government is reportedly planning to develop a small tea stall in the western state of Gujarat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi sold tea in his childhood along with his father, into a popular tourist attraction, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

The tea stall is located at the Vadnagar railway station in Gujarat and Modi often talks about his "humble beginnings" as a tea vendor.

"Inside the Vadnagar railway station, there is a small tea stall, from where our prime minister had probably started his life's journey. We also want to develop that tea stall as a tourism spot. Our aim is to put Vadnagar on world tourism map," Indian Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma told the media.

"There is no proposal for giving a facelift to the tea stall. Instead, the original charm of the tea stall will be preserved while giving it a modern touch," he added.

Ahead of the general elections in 2014, Modi had used "innovative" Chai Pe Charcha (Discussions over Tea) campaign to woo voters.

He had also used the internet to address people at 1,000 tea stalls across the country before the polls.

-- BERNAMA