The incomplete park at Gopalpur-on-sea. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Aug. 21: The construction of a children’s park at Gopalpur-on-sea is progressing at a snail’s pace due to paucity of funds.

In December 2011, the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation handed over the work to the Gopalpur notified area council.

“We started the construction of the park since last April after the state urban development department had sanctioned us Rs 31 lakh for infrastructure development. We have purchased the joyrides worth Rs 18 lakh and sought sanction of another Rs 50 lakh for the park’s development. Earlier, we had planned to finish the construction by this month and open it by September. But everything depends upon the sanction of funds,” said executive officer of the council Ram Chandra Mishra.

The council had developed another small patch of children’s park on the beach.

Mishra said, the park on the beach was inaugurated in 2003 and remained under the corporation’s control.

“We are developing ornamental trees and filling some portions with soil inside the park. Of the 1,140-feet long and six feet wide concrete path, 967 feet has already been completed. Tender is to be floated for the remaining 174-feet path. The path will be fitted with decorative tiles and will have ornamental trees on both sides of the path. Boundary wall of the front side has also been constructed and we have spent Rs 6.52 lakh for this,” said council junior engineer Hishi Hansda.

Thousands of tourists visit Gopalpur beach every month with their kids. The park has been developed for the amusement of children, but it remains closed throughout the year. “I have seen some construction inside the park and hope that it will open shortly. Though we enjoy the beach during our stay at Gopalpur, the park will definitely attract more families,” said Kesab Maharana a tourist, who frequently visits Gopalpur with his children.