Sitarampur dam in Seraikela-Kharsawan. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, Feb. 9: Tourists will soon have two more reasons for visiting Seraikela-Kharsawan district — Sitarampur Dam and Kudasai.

The district administration has decided to develop these two spots, already popular among picnickers, into tourist destinations. While boating will be introduced at Sitarampur Dam besides other facilities, a beautification drive will be undertaken at Kudasai. The funds will be released by the state tourism department.

Deputy commissioner of Seraikela-Kharsawan Rajesh Sharma said: “The facilities at the picturesque Sitarampur Dam will come up at an estimated cost of Rs 25 lakh while another Rs 42 lakh will be invested at Kudasai.”

About 20km from the steel city, Sitarampur Dam caters to the drinking water requirement of areas falling under the jurisdiction of Tata Steel in Jamshedpur and Adityapur.

Construction of infrastructure to start boating has already started at the dam. The administration has a beautification plan, too. Apart from adding benches, it is also developing roads in the area.

On the other hand, the scenic Kudasai on the bank of river Kharkai, around 40km from here, will get a park. According to officials, the park will also have an entertainment zone for children.

“These two areas are being developed in two phases. Work in the first phase is already on. We will wrap up everything before the end of this fiscal. Proposal for the second phase has already been sent to the tourism department,” said an official of the district administration. He added that they would start restaurants at the spots in the near future.

The administration also has plans to improve infrastructure at other tourist destinations. “Chandil and Palna Dam at Chandil and Akarshani Mela and Karatta Dam at Kharsawan have the potential to be developed into tourist spots,” another official said.