Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday inaugurated 34 wayside amenity centres along various National Highways (NHs) and State Highways (SHs) and at other important places across the state through videoconferencing from the Secretariat here.
The centres were built by the Works department. The government has identified 50 locations along various roads to set up such centres, of which 34 were opened for public Tuesday. Out of these centres, Chief Minister directly inaugurated five while the rest were inaugurated by the ministers, local MLAs and MPs.
Naveen said these centres are equipped with facilities like toilets, safe drinking water and cafeteria that will cater to the needs of tourists, especially women during their journey.
The Chief Minister announced that such centres would also come up at other tourist destinations and important places of the state in coming days.
“The wayside amenity centres assume significance insofar as clean environment and quality journey are concerned. Hope, we would use it properly and the Works department will ensure proper maintenance of the centres,” he added. Works secretary Nalinikanta Pradhan said facilities like cafeteria, vehicle parking, drinking water, toilets and food, among others, will be provided at these centres. Later, trauma care facility, vehicle repairing facility, playground for children would be provided, he said.
In the first phase, the amenity centres are being set up on government land. But, later the government will acquire private land at some places for setting up of such centres, Pradhan said.
“No user fee will be charged to stay or use these facilities. But, people have to pay to avail other benefits like food or coffee,” the secretary said, adding, the government has spent about `1.10 crore on each centre.
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