Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Oct 2: The popular tourist destination, Udayagiri to become disable friendly as the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) is constructing ramps so that people with difficulty to climb stairs can now at least reach upto Rani Gumpha easily. Works on the 3 special disable friendly route have already begun.
The ASI has already constructed one ramp near the stair of Hati Gupmpha leading towards Rani Gumpha and similar ramp will be constructed near Rani Gumpha too. For the past few days works on the beautification of both the site, Udayagiri and Khandagiri is going on for which around 25 workers are engaged to construct pathways, ramps and resetting of stairs. Around Rs. 18 lakh has been sanctioned for the beautification project which also includes gardens near Hati Gumpha.
Speaking to Orissa Post Trilokyanath Behera, supervisor of Khandagiri and Udayagiri said, “We have planned to construct 2 ramps in those areas where it is possible. One has already been finished near the entrance and work on another ramp will soon begin. Since the site also comes under Adarsh Smarak Yojana, after this disable people can easily visit the Rani Gumpha which is the main caves of Udayagiri.”
“There will be 3 special disable friendly routes which will start from Hati Gumpha to Rani Gumpha. Apart from these, 5 pathways will be made using sandstone,” he informed.
The ASI will also provide wheel chairs for disable person and if possible will provide assistance to make them reach upto Rani Gumpha.
When inquired about the ongoing project, Ashok Kumar Patel, Superintending Archeologists of Orissa circle said, “The work has already begun and we hope that it will be finished before Dusherra. The motive is to make the site disable friendly. We are also going to construct an interpretation centre where visitor can go and watch videos related to both the caves. ”
When asked if ASI has any plan to construct similar ramp in Jagganath temple he said, “It is easy to construct ramps in newly constructed buildings but there are some restrictions of adding anything to a monument. There has been a demand of constructing a temporary ramp in the Puri temple but it depends upon the temple authority to make it disable friendly as we can’t take any decision related to the temple.”
Speaking about installation of disable friendly signboards in Braille in Konark temple, Patel informed, “Konark temple is under Indian Oil Foundation trust (IOF) and they have already planned to put up signboards in Braille and also to built an interpretation centre to help the tourists. The work is going on.”
