Jaleswar: After much delay, the Odisha government has finally initiated the process for the protection and renovation of the ancient Raibania fort in the Balasore district. Work is moving speedily for the restoration of the fort, sources said Monday. The state Tourism department has taken up a number of projects for restoring the fort to its old glory. Funds have been allocated for building well-decorated welcome gates on the four sides of the fort. The construction of the first gate was completed a couple of months ago. Minister of Language, Literature, Culture, and Tourism, Ashwini Kumar Patra has laid the foundation stone for the second welcome gate recently.
An estimated Rs 25 lakh will be spent on it. The Tourism department has allocated Rs 6 crore for the laying of roads, electrification, beautification, and infrastructure development, sources informed. Various outfits have pointed out that scores of stone sculptures are lying scattered all over the fort premises. They said these sculptures should be pieced together to complete the half-built Jagannath temple. They have demanded the construction of a Panthasala and a park to attract more tourists from both within Odisha and also outside the state.