Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida on Tuesday chaired a review meeting at the conference hall of Paryatan Bhawan in Bhubaneswar to assess the implementation status of various tourism infrastructure projects, destination development initiatives, promotional activities, and investment opportunities being carried out across the state.
Dy CM Parida reviewed the ongoing development works around Dhauli and discussed a range of measures to further enhance the tourist experience at the heritage site. She emphasised the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) for tourists and local commuting in and around Dhauli to promote eco-friendly tourism and ensure greater convenience for visitors as part of the Dhauli Master Plan.
The Minister also stressed the importance of beautification and integrated development of Kapileswar and Sukhmeswar temples, along with Dasia Bauri Pitha and other heritage sites across the BBSR–Puri corridor, directing officials to undertake the proposed works in coordination with the concerned departments and authorities after obtaining the necessary approvals and permissions. Department’s advertisement and promotional plan for the Bhubaneswar–Puri corridor was also discussed, keeping in view the upcoming Rath Yatra and the expected influx of tourists and pilgrims.
The meeting further reviewed initiatives related to homestays, adventure tourism, tourist safety and security, and sanitation at major tourist destinations, with emphasis on promoting Odisha as a clean, safe, and culturally enriched tourism destination.
The Minister reviewed different policies and initiatives for attracting private investment in the tourism sector and stressed the creation of a dedicated tourism land bank to facilitate tourism infrastructure and investments. She appreciated the efforts of the Department of Tourism (DoT) for the timely disbursal of capital investment subsidies and the timely approval of hospitality projects.
Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattnaik, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Tourism Balwant Singh, Director of Tourism Deepankar Mohapatra, and other concerned officials of the Tourism Department attended the meeting.
