Bhubaneswar: In a bid to attract more tourists, the state government has decided to develop eight beaches in the state at a cost of Rs 35 crore, Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda said here Monday.
Panda said Sonapur and Potagarh beaches in Ganjam, Chandrabhaga in Puri, Siali in Jagatsinghpur, Chandbali and Dhamra in Bhadrak, and Kasaphal, Bahabalipur and Dubalgiri in Balasore district would be developed to give the beaches a swanky look.
The minister said the development of the beaches would be undertaken with assistance from World Bank, Union government and state government.
While the World Bank would provide 75 per cent of the funds, the Centre would bear 15 per cent and the remaining 10 per cent of the project cost would be borne by the state government.
The state, the minister said, would get 90 per cent of the funds (World Bank 75 per cent and Centre 15 per cent) as grant.
The funds would be utilised for the development of toilet complex, jetty and rest sheds to attract more tourists to the state.
The work for the development of beaches would commence shortly after a World Bank team completes its scheduled visit to the state to assess and give final shape to the plan.
