The marine drive near Konark was chock-a-block with vehicles on Sunday as thousands of people, including a large number from Cuttack & Bhubaneswar, thronged to witness the ‘mini-Goa’ set up there. Organized by the state government, ‘Marine Drive Eco Retreat’ is a zone set up with beach shacks, music, performances, adventure sports and tents to spend the night.
“It really feels like mini-Goa. I can’t believe this could be done in Odisha!” said Priyanka Mohanty, an IT professional working in Bhubaneswar.
From tea to beer to rolls and pasta, the Eco Retreat seems to cover everything for everyone. Popular hotels and food outlets such as Mayfair, Rain The Club, Fort Mahodadhi, Bhooka, Chai Biscuit, and more have set up shop here.
There’s a beach market as well.
For night-stays, there are luxurious tents available starting at Rs 6,000 to Rs 25,000 for a presidential suite.
“The shacks are lovely, the sea feels so good to chillax all day with a pint of beer or tea. The parking situation could have been better. We had to park on the road.” said Saurav Kumar, an entrepreneur.
However, there has been some criticism regarding sign boards mentioning “Towing Zone” in Odia. All the boards mention ‘tobing joyne’ which isn’t the correct translation as many on social media have pointed out.
“How difficult is it for the government to translate ‘Towing Zone’ in Odia? It reflects very poorly on our state despite the amazing arrangements done here,” said R N Padhi, a retired government officer.
The Eco Retreat will conclude on January 31, 2020. Have you been there yet? Do let us know your experience in the comments section.
