Bhubaneswar, Aug. 5: The state government decided to complete all the incomplete infrastructure projects in Puri by February next year. These projects were targeted to be commissioned before the Nabakalebar festival that concluded last month.
Official sources said chief minister Naveen Patnaik today asked the officials to expedite the construction work to meet the revised deadline.
Chairman of Nabakalebara infrastructure supervision committee Maheswar Mohanty said almost all infrastructure works were completed before Nabakalebara.
Only the expansion of Bhubaneswar-Puri national highway, railway overbridge, drainage and sewerage work in the pilgrim town remained incomplete, he said.
It emerged at today's review that the expansion work of NH-203 on the stretch between Mangala Hat and Sterling Hotel and Samjajpur railway overbridge has remained incomplete. The revised target isto complete the incomplete national highway stretch by October and the railway overbridge by December.
Similarly, the Rs 67crore bus stand constructed at Malatipatpur on the outskirts of Puri has been left unutilised after the conclusion of Nabakalebara.
The government, therefore, decided to park the inter-state buses there to keep it utilised. Besides, an office of the assistant regional transport officer will be opened there besides developing a craft village and food park.
Moreover, 21km of the 77-km long drain being constructed in Puri remains incomplete. Similarly, only 30 per cent of sewerage work could be complete.
"As the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has expired, we are thinking to complete the projects with funds from the Centre's Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transport (Amrut) or out of state's own resources," said Mohanty.
Tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda said the chief minister thanked all for their cooperation for the smooth conduct of Nabakalebar. He praised the officials and volunteers for their sincere efforts. He also suggested to felicitate volunteers in recognition of their sincere and dedicated service.
"The chief minister also advised to document both sides of experiences gathered while conducting the grand event," Panda said.
On the day of the car festival, ambulances had made 650 trips and treatment was given to 51,000 persons said a senior official of the state health department.
A review of the crowd control and traffic management was also made by Naveen, who was informed that around 58 lakh tourists and pilgrims congregated at Puri during different stages of Nabakalebar.
The highest deployment of police forces (10,000) was made this year for maintenance of law and order, crowd control and traffic management.
