The State Government has decided to prepare a composite plan to develop two virgin beaches at Talasari and Udaypur in Balasore district as tourist attractions.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here recently. The Chief Minister directed the Tourism Department to prepare the plan at the earliest.
Official sources said a consultant will be appointed soon to prepare the blue print for development of these two beaches into attractive tourist destinations. The master plan will deal with the required tourism infrastructure such as construction of hotels, road connectivity, lighting and other facilities in detail.
A sea wall is already being constructed along the 2.7-km coastal road in Bhogarai block connecting Talasari and Udaypur. Sources said 1.5 km of the sea wall has already been constructed with an investment of ` 8.14 crore.
A provision of ` 12.91 crore has already been made by the Tourism Department for completion of the remaining portion of the wall.
The construction is being done under supervision of the Odisha Construction Corporation. Besides, the department has proposed construction of 900-metre sea wall alongside the coastal road connecting Chandbali, Kirtania and Matikencha in Bhogarai block.
Among others, Tourism and Culture Minister Maheswar Mohanty, BJD MLA from Bhograi Anant Das, Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra and senior officials attended the meeting.