Khandapara: All the year round tourists come to Kantilo in Nayagarh district for more than one reason. It has already been accorded the status of tourist site by the department of tourism. It is prominently known for the Jagannath cult and brass and bell metal articles.
While the number of tourist during this picnic season has increased, many perennial problems are causing dissatisfaction to the visitor.
Businessmen and tourists flock this tourist spot in great numbers. The parking facility, however, has been an eye sore. Every year, Khandapara Debattor Department conducts auction and awards the tender to the highest bidder for collecting parking fee. Parking fee collection is the prime source of income for the department and it earns in lakhs.
“It seems that the lease holder and the concerned department are only collecting money. The department is hardly providing any parking facility for the convenience of the tourists,” some visitors complained.
As there is no designated parking place tourists left with no option but to park their vehicles on the main road. This parking automatically results in difficult vehicle mobilization causing more discomfort.
It being a Kartik month and picnic season has set in, thousands of visitors and picnickers have started coming to this place. Keeping the number of vehicles in mind, least to nothing has been done to ameliorate the traffic problem.
This apart, the place despite being declared a tourist spot by the government is devoid of any facilities for tourists’ overstay or any lodging nearby the spot. The place is also devoid of any safe earmarked picnic spots as such visitors cannot spend more time at the site even if they wish to do so.
The tender holder agency is paying least care to ensure proper maintenance and development. The agency’s staffs usually get their duty done by collecting fees.
Most visitors prefer the Mahanadi Malabandha stretch as it is the shortest route to reach the temple. These visitors usually park their vehicles on the road and by the side of the Malabandha, causing traffic snarls.
Residents once suggested that the river bed from Malabandha Sankha orchard to western gate of the temple on the left side of the Mahanadi be leveled up and allowed for parking as the space can accommodate thousands of vehicles.
Several rounds of meetings on this proposed parking site were also held between the Khandapara tehsildar who is also officiating as Debottar executive officer and the residents. The tehsildar and other officials accepted the proposal stating it as a good one nothing however, has been done so far to give a relief to the locals and visitors.
PNN