Bhubaneswar, Oct. 27: The Orissa government has decided to construct new roads and renovate the existing ones that connect the state?s numerous tourist centres.

A high-level meeting presided over by tourism minister Suryo Patro yesterday discussed the condition of roads connecting Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri, Udaygiri, Langudi, Konark, Puri, Satpada, Taptapani and Harisankar.

The tourism minister stressed the need for early completion of the Gop-Konark, Konark-Puri and Puri-Satpada roads, renovation of the Krusnadaspur-Lalitgiri Road and the stretch, which connects Express Highway with Langudi.

The meeting was informed that Rs 58 lakh has so far been spent on the development of Panthanivas at Barkul. The tourism department had earlier sanctioned a sum of Rs 74 lakh for the project.

The minister also underscored the need to improve the road connecting Salia dam to enhance tourist inflow.

Works secretary Arabinda Behera, tourism secretary Ashok Tripathy, tourism director Madhusudan Padhi, chief engineer (roads) P.C. Samal and senior officials of the rural development department were also present.