In a bid to boost beach tourism in the state, the Odisha government has decided to upgrade facilities at Talasari and Udaypur seashores in Balasore district, official sources said today.
"A consultant will be appointed soon to prepare blueprint for development of these two sea beaches," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who presided over a high-level meeting to promote tourism yesterday, said.
He also directed the tourism department to prepare a composite plan detailing the required tourism infrastructure such as construction of hotels, improved road connectivity, proper lighting and other allied facilities in the two beaches to turn them into major tourist destinations.
Though the state has a 480-km coastline only two beaches - Puri and Gopalpur - attract tourists, while a good number of places with equal potential do not feature in visitors' itinerary.
Tourism Minister Maheswar Mohanty informed Patnaik that a sea wall is being constructed along the 2.7 km long coastal road at Bhogarai block connecting Talasari and Udaypur, the sources said.
A stretch of about 1.5 km of the sea wall has already been constructed at a cost of Rs 8.14 crore, he said, adding that the tourism department will spend another Rs 12.91 crore to complete the wall.
The construction is being done by Odisha Construction Corporation (OCC), a state PSU, he said.
Mohanty also underscored the urgency of constructing of the 900 meter stretch of sea wall along side the coastal road connecting Chandbali, Kirtania and Matikencha also in Bhogarai block, the sources added.
