Kendrapara: The 157-year-old colonial structure Hukitola, located near the Mahanadi Delta in the Bay of Bengal, will be developed to attract tourists. The Odisha Tourism Department will spend Rs 1.87 crore for the infrastructure development of Hukitola Island. A floating jetty will be set up at Jamboo with an estimated fund of Rs 9.24 lakh while Rs 7.04 lakh will be spent for enhancing the floating jetty at Hukitola. An estimated Rs 24 lakh will be spent on illumination at Jamboo and Hukitola island and Rs 30 lakh will be utilised for the repair work of the solar system at Hukitola.
The investment will be made in the display wall and augmentation of pindi at Hukitola pathway, vending kiosk and sitting equipment by the Odisha Tourism Department. The 11,250 sq ft structure stands testimony to the technical brilliance of British engineers of that age. It is 150 feet long and 75 feet wide and has 11 large and nine small chambers. The height of the rooftop from the land is 30 feet. British India’s former Cuttack Collector John Beams and chief engineer of irrigation J Huki Waker were the architects of the historic monument. The great famine of 1866 led the British to build the warehouse. Rice from various parts of the country made its way to Hukitola Island for storage and later for distribution among the starving masses. The uniqueness of the Hukitola Palace lies in its roof. Sloped in design, it helped rainwater to flow down to four big water pots. The collected water was used for drinking purposes by the merchants throughout the year. During the winter season, several tourists from the state generally visit Hukitola to spend their leisure time. The unforgettable boating experience, the calm environment with mangrove forest cover, and the historical monument allure tourists to pay a visit to the spot. But due to the lack of infrastructure development at the place, tourists also hesitate to visit Hukitola. It may be noted here that the colonial building Hukitola was tagged in the state tourism map in 2016.