Ahead of Lord Jagannth's Nabakalebara festival, the Odisha government today started preparations for beautification of Atharanala bridge in Puri.
State tourism minister Ashok Panda today initiated discussion on modalities on how to undertake development work around the water body as there are plans to set up an open air theatre, parking lot, foot path and lighting of the bridge.
The beautification and development work would be done by the Water Resources department's Drainage Division for which the Centre has already sanctioned Rs 4.75 crore, sources said.
Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty, District Collector and the Tourism Secretary attended the meeting.
The 85 m long Atharnala bridge was constructed by Bhanu Deba of the Ganga Dynasty in the 13th century on River Muthiya.
Atharnala is a combination of two words, 'Athar' and 'Nala' which means 'Eighteen Passages'. There are 18 brick passages on which the bridge was constructed and is located at the entrance of Puri town.
