BHUBANESWAR: The long pending work on the tourism interpretation centre, located near the Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves, will be completed by June this year. The work, started over two years back, was delayed by a year, due to paucity of funds.
It is a joint effort of the Central and State governments and part of a project for development of Khandagiri and Udaygiri caves.
While the construction of the main building has been completed, ancillary works like landscaping and lighting is underway. It is being set up over an area of around 6,000 square foot.
JK Das, senior divisional manager (building project division), Orissa Tourism Development Corporation and incharge of the construction of the centre, said work on the interpretation centre is likely to be completed by June.
He said while the Centre had allotted around ` 2.2 crore for the project, the State Government had provided another ` 2 crore.
The centre will have six halls, housing a cafeteria, souvenir shops, an entertainment centre with audio-visual and projector facilities and a separate parking space. Two halls will be used for food courts, serving authentic Odisha dishes and multi-cuisine.
“When completed, the centre will serve as a window for domestic and high-end tourists visiting the State. It is being constructed on the lines of centres in major tourist destinations like New Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan and the North Eastern states,” he said.
Das further said though the project was initially aimed at providing information on Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar, it was later decided to gradually provide information on all the tourist spots of the State.
He said though the Centre’s parking space can accommodate 50 buses at a time, with plans being made to shift the Baramunda bus stand near it as a part of the Khandagiri and Udaygiri caves development project, as many as 150 buses can be accommodated in the area.
Meanwhile, the OTDC interpretation centre in Nandankanan Zoo is awaiting formal inauguration.