Odisha Govt Proposes To Double Tourism Budget; Marine Drive Eco Retreat To Be An Annual Affair

Bhubaneswar: With a vision to turn Odisha into a world-class tourist destination, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari on Tuesday proposed to double the budgetary allocation to the Tourism Department.

It has been increased from Rs.194 crore in 2019-20 to Rs.401 crore in the financial year of 2020-21.

Almost half of this amount will be utilized for creation and management of world-class tourist infrastructure.

Pujari said that the mega investment for transforming Puri into World Heritage City and EKAMRA Plan would be a game changer for the tourism sector.

The Odisha government has earmarked Rs 695 crore under ABADHA for development of Puri and Rs 150 crore earmarked under Ekamra Kshetra Amenities and Monuments Revival Action plan for 2020-21.

“The efforts of the Odisha government to transform Konark from a day-visit tourist destination to Marine Drive Eco Retreat, with 50 cottages for accommodation of tourists have been widely appreciated in national as well as international sphere. It will be organized every year,” the finance minister said.

For development of heritage sites including Samaleswari Mandir, Hirakud Dam and other potential places and old monuments of tourist importance, a new scheme under Works Department with outlay of Rs.50 crore has been envisaged, he said.

An amount of Rs.80 crore has been proposed for Bay Area Development in Shamuka beach, which will have world class infrastructure to attract the new world economy, he added.