Odisha Going Slow On Coastal Circuit Development Work: Union Tourism Minister

Bhubaneswar: Only 35 per cent of the work on Development of Coastal Circuit: Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara in Odisha under Swadesh Darshan scheme has been completed so far. The project has also missed the June 2019 deadline, informed Union  Tourism Minister Prahalad Singh Patel.

In a letter to Congress MP from Odisha Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, who had raised a matter regarding approving few circuits for Rayagada and Koraput in Odisha, the Union Minister said that his Ministry had sanctioned Rs. 70.82 crore in 2016-17 for the project.

“The implementation of the project on ground is very slow. The project has missed the completion timeline of June 2019 and has recorded physical progress of 35 per cent only despite repeated follow-ups. I also request you to kindly take up this issue with the state government,” he wrote.

Patel further said that the projects under Swadesh Darshan scheme are identified in consultation with the state governments and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, liquidation of pending utilization certificates, submission of suitable Detailed Project Report (DPR) and adherence to the scheme guidelines. 

Since development and promotion of tourism infrastructure is undertaken primarily by the state government, a copy of request received from the Koraput MP has been forwarded to the state government for necessary action, the Union Minister added.