The News Minute | March 1, 2015 | 11.01 am ISTThe union budget’s proposals to develop Hampi further as a World Heritage Site has been welcomed by the people of the state. The ruins of Hampi, a city of the Vijayanagar empire, are some of the largest ruins in the world, and a popular tourist attraction. Lakhs of people visit the ruined city located a few kilometres away from Hospet in Ballari district in northern Karnataka. In 2014, over five lakh tourists visited Hampi, including nearly 50,000 foreigners. Anand Singh, Vijayanagar MLA and former Tourism Minister, told The Hindu, “Even with minimal facilities, tourists from across the globe throng Hampi. If infrastructure facilities and visitors’ amenities are improved, the tourist inflow will double. At least now, the authorities concerned should draw up suitable plans, making use of the additional resources, to improve the facilities at Hampi by introducing mobile cyber cafes, eateries, toilets and the like,” TweetFollow @thenewsminute