Dhenkanal: Famous ‘Shakti peetha’ Maa Ramachandi shrine and Dadaraghati dam in Dhenkanal district will get all facilities essential for a tourist spot.
For the infrastructure development at these two sites, the district tourism department has submitted a proposal entailing a spend of Rs 2.17 crore to the state government, it was learnt.
Maa Ramachandi shrine located on the bank of the Brahmani river near Nadhara village under Odapada block, 45 kilometres from the district headquarters, is one of the famous tourist spots in the district.
On the occasion of Makar Shankranti, the spot witnesses a huge gathering of devotees coming from far and near. This apart, tourists in good numbers throng the spot throughout the year.
The natural beauty and the tranquil atmosphere are a fascination for tourists. Once they reach here, they just allow themselves to soak in the tranquility.
What makes them disappointed is that the spot is devoid of ancillary infrastructures and facilities. Because of this, the tourists are facing a lot of difficulties at the shrine.
Keeping this in view, for the construction of an approach road, special community toilets, rest room, a parking facility and platforms (pindi) for picnic, the district tourism department has submitted a proposal to the state government, seeking approval for an amount of Rs 1.15 crore.
Nestled in the lap of nature, Dadaraghati dam comes alive during the tourist season. The main attraction of the spot is the presence of winged guests.
The entire area gets reverberated with the chirping of these birds from October. Once here, tourists cannot deny themselves getting immersed in the picture postcard scenes and capture the short-lived moments in their mobile phones.
If the tourists are lucky, they can enjoy watching elephants playing their hearts out in water on the other side of the dam.
Like the Maa Ramachandi shrine, here too platforms (pindi) for picnic, rest house, watch towers, toilets, parking centre, an approach road, a bore well and an overhead water tank are to be constructed.
For this, a proposal of Rs 1.2 crore has been sought from the state government.
In this regard, district tourist officer Jagadish Ray said for infrastructure development at Maa Ramachandi shrine and Dadaraghati dam, proposals for Rs 2.17 crore have been submitted to the government.
Once sanctioned, construction work will be started, he added.
PNN