BALASORE: A dilapidated approach road and plastic plates, cups strewn all around welcome visitors to the mystical Chandipur beach. Counted among one of the most visited beaches in the country, Chandipur lacks heavily on tourist amenities. Neither has the place been maintained nor developed despite the fact that lakhs of tourists visit it during the tourism season (October to February).
The approach road to the beach is not motorable and has been dug up for maintenance. There are no lamp posts on the beach and it remains dark after dusk. It is only during special occasions or festivals that temporary lights are fixed on the beach and roads are repaired. In the absence of security provisions, tourists fear to move round the beach in the night.
Sources said the beach is not cleaned regularly. Polythene and garbage are littered all throughout the beach by vendors and tourists. Fishermen sometimes use beach stretches as lavatory. Unlike the popular Puri beach where mechanised cleaning has been introduced, there is no such facility at Chandipur which is also a major crowd-puller.
A tourist, Kakali Ray from Kolkata, said the unique character of Chandipur draws her to the beach every year. “I have visited Goa and other beaches but Chandipur beach is more interesting as we can walk inside the sea here. But the beach is dark and dirty. We are forced to stay in the hotel after sunset with no other recreational facilities nearby,” she said.
Chandipur beach changed its face with the altercation of tides. Despite the uniqueness, it has failed to attract international tourists.
Although many development projects were proposed by the administration for Chandipur in the past, none of them has taken shape yet. Some of them are construction of a Ring Road from Chandipur to Balaramgadi beach, a guard wall to protect sea erosion on the northern side of the beach and landscaping at Chandipur.
Collector Pramod Kumar Das said officials have been asked to complete the road repair work soon and fix lights. He said the beach is being cleaned regularly and police have been asked to maintain law and order.
The Tourism department, on its part, provides funds to all beach protection committees across the State and district collectors for maintenance of the beach.