With experts on travel and tourism expecting that over 50 lakh devotees will reach Puri for the Nabakalebar festival in 2015, Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra on Saturday harped on putting the infrastructure projects on fast track mode.
He stressed on completion of all the facilities by December 2014, and this is a big target, feels a senior officer who was privy to the discussions.
Mohapatra held long discussions on various fronts including tourist amenities, hospitality facilities, road and train infrastructure, power connectivity, water supply and sewerage, etc. Top officials of the concerned departments attended the meeting.
The major road projects which need development include upgradation of 39.60-km NH Birapratapur-Jankia, Gop-Balighai (18 km), high level bridge at Netapur, Phulnakhara-Chharichhka-Gop (54 km), Jatni-Pipili- Khurda (22 km), Biraharekrushnapur-Balighai (6 km), Puri-Konark (37 km) and Puri-Satapada (39 km).
Many parking places are being planned with buffer parking spaces at the sides of NH-203 Bhubaneswar-Puri, nearing Puri. Similarly, about 10 parking places are also planned to be developed on the outskirts of Puri. A new bus-stand would be set up at Puri along with development of the old one.
The Chief Secretary asked the officials concerned to set timelines for completion of the railway projects which include doubling of Jatni-Puri line. For ensuring supply of uninterrupted electricity during the festival, three new sub-stations one of 220x32 KV and two 132 KV sub-stations would be set up.
The present room facilities in all the private hotels at Puri are round 35,000, which needs to be tripled as the requirement would jack up with the massive flow of tourists and devotees. It was decided to increase the accommodation facilities in the SJTA-owned Neelachal Dharmashala.
The meeting felt that a trauma care centre and healthcare facilities at Puri need special attention. And the number of beds at the Puri District Hospital would be raised to accommodate more patients.Meanwhile, different departments have prioritised projects and asked for budgetary support so that the facilities would be completed in time.
While Rs 162 crore has been estimated by the Works Department for State Highways, major district roads, flyovers across the Golden Triangle and stretches of National Highways, the Housing & Urban Development Department has sought Rs 539 crore, the Shree Jagannath Temple Development Committee needs Rs 91 crore, the Tourism Department wants Rs 130 crore, the Commerce & Transport Department Rs 49 crore, the Home Department needs Rs 71 crore, the Energy Department Rs 306 crore and the Health & Family Welfare Department Rs 49 crore.
Besides, the East Coast Railways would need fund separately for the Khurda Road railway station bypass, double line from Delang via Sakhigopal to Puri, upgradation of Puri and Malatipatapur railway stations, toad over-bridges and pedestrian underpasses at different locations.