Jamshedpur, March 27: The much-awaited dream of turning Patamda and Ghatshila into tourist destinations might soon become a reality with the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) all set to start landscaping work in these two areas.

According to ITDC officials, landscaping work involving identification of spots for construction of cottages, rest houses, cafeterias and sight-seeing facilities in and around the picturesque Phooldungri hills in Ghatshila and development of similar facilities in Patamda would begin from the first week of April this year.

Landscaping work would be followed by the final execution of tourism projects. The ITDC, which has been entrusted with the work of developing tourism facilities in the state, has selected three places, including Ghatshila and Patamda in the coming financial year. The state government has also approved a proposal of Rs 40 lakh for landscaping and developing tourism infrastructure for Ghatshila and Patamda, said ITDC officials.

Senior ITDC official A.B. Kumar told The Telegraph from Ranchi that two teams comprising four members would be visiting Ghatshila and Patamda to make a spot survey of the sites before coming up with a final proposal in consultation with landscaping experts.

Sources said the ITDC had earlier made a presentation of these two sites before former chief minister Babulal Marandi, who had cleared the projects. “The government response for the development of these two-sites, considered important tourist destinations, was encouraging” said sources.

Tourism department sources said to give a facelift to Ghatshila, the Burudih dam adjoining the Phooldungri hills would be provided with motor-boats, which have already been procured. The proposal also includes setting up of a deer park, facing the Burudih dam at a cost of Rs 3 lakh. At Patamda, located opposite to the sprawling Dimna lake on the foothills of Dalma, it plans to construct mini-cottages, cafeterias and some water-sport facilities. Sources said initially, the ITDC had to face some problems for acquiring land in Patamda, but the disputes have been settled with the district administration’s intervention.

The ITDC, which is playing a twin role — consultant and execution of tourism projects for the state government had already bagged tenders for developing eight tourist sites, including Kanke dam, Hatia dam, Dasam falls, Tagore Hills and Pahari Mandir in Ranchi and its adjoining areas.