Govt approves Rs 265 crore infrastructure development projects

Odisha government on Wednesday approved projects worth Rs 265 crore for infrastructure development of Puri town to make it the most preferred tourist destination in the state, an official said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a high level meeting held at the Lok Seva Bhawan here approved the projects.

Lakhs of devotes and tourists visit of pilgrim town of Puri which is famous for its Lord Jagannath temple and its sea beach.

Five infrastructural development projects will be taken up by the state government at Puri under the Augmentation Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme, an official note issued by the chief minister's office said.

The meeting decided to construct 1,250 shops in the in the local municipality market area of Puri and other places. Multi-level parking space will also be constructed on the premises of old jail of Puri, it said.

The parking space will accommodate 400 cars. Similarly, another multi-level parking space will be constructed at Jatrika with a capacity for accommodating 400 cars, it said.

This will help solve the parking problem in the town, it said, adding that the existing municipality market will be renovated into an ultra modern market complex.

This apart, the meeting also resolved that all the government offices including the Puri Collector's Office will be accommodated under a single roof.

It was also decided at the meeting that the Acharya Harihar Chhak road stretch will be expanded and various citizen-centric services and beautification activities will be undertaken.