Shamuka project in phases

Waking up to the inordinately slow pace of progress of the Rs 3,500-crore Shamuka tourism project, the state tourism department has decided to execute it in a phased manner.

Though the project was initially conceived 23 years ago, it has hardly showed any sign of taking off at the ground level.

"In the first phase, bids will be opened for four five star hotels and one golf course after obtaining necessary approval from the appropriate authority," said H S Upadhyay, director, state tourism department.

He was speaking at the ninth edition of Entrepreneurs Week organised by Team Odisha, the nodal agency for industrial promotion in the state.

The three five star hotels will be spread over an area of 20 acres each while the fourth one will be established on 40 acres of land. Similarly, bids will be invited for a golf course with golf villas covering 304 acres of land in the first phase of implementation.

Officials in the tourism department say the matter is pending with the chief minister's office for approval.

Earlier, bids were invited for establishment of five star hotels for the showpiece Shamuka project where hospitality majors like Taj Group of Hotels and Resorts, ITC, Park Hotels, Ananda Spa, Emaar MGF and DLF had expressed their interest for setting up hotels at the site. But the bidders have failed to submit their financial bids citing economic slowdown.

Separately, the department has decided to incorporate the proposed public aquarium project under the Shamuka beach project. An area of 40 acres of land will be set aside for the aquarium to be developed on the public private partnership (PPP) mode. Earlier, the aquarium was planned along the Puri-Konark marine drive.

Speaking on the occasion, JK Mohanty, chairman of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) said, "The tourism department must prepare a time line for the implementation of the different projects."

He rued, the tourism policy is delayed for seven years and is yet to see the light of the day while the fate of Shamuka project is hanging in balance for the last 23 years.