Following are excerpts from a report in New Indian Express.

The State Tourism Department has prepared a comprehensive plan for boosting the 480 km-long vast coastline of Orissa to increase tourist flow.

Talking to this website’s newspaper, Tourism Minister, Debi Prasad Mishra said, “Nearly Rs 100 crore will be spent on tourism sector in 2008 and the main focus will be on beach tourism. Besides the budgetary support, we would also develop some pristine beaches in the State with the help of aid agencies. Infrastructure development will also be made through public-private-partnership.”

In the preliminary stage, nearly 3,000 acres patch named as “Samuka peninsula” between Puri and Satapada will be developed as a tourist resort of international standards.
“With a six-km-long sea frontage, the Samuka peninsula would be designed on the lines of different peninsulas in the world. It would be dotted with the waterfront restaurants and cafes which will be set in beautifully landscaped gardens,” Mishra said.

He added that deals with the aid agency has reached final stage and the work would probably start from April. Initially, 1,000 acres with a two-km-long frontage will be developed.

This apart, plans for erection of tourist resorts on 200 acres between Chandipur and Balaramgadi fishing harbour in Balasore, 40-km-long beach in south Orissa along with Tampara lake complex near Rushikulya mouth, 80-km-long beach between Dhamra to Paradip and beaches in Balasore and Bhadrak districts have been put forth.

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Announcing a clear-cut plan for Balasore district, Mishra said Rs 12 crore will be spent for Balasore. “Around Rs 3 crore would be spent for beautifying Chandipur sea beach and developing accommodation facilities for the tourists. The rest would be for eight other major tourist spots in the district including Talasari- Udaypur beach, Panchalingeswar and Khirachora Gopinath at Remuna,” he added.