Cuttack, Aug. 8: To promote tourism in Cuttack, the municipal corporation has drawn up an ambitious plan to beautify the 900-year-old Barabati Fort and its immediate surroundings. The fort was declared protected in 1915.

Civic authorities feel that once the fort is spruced up, it will become a major tourist attraction. The beautification plan will also include cleaning the moat around the fort and introducing boating facilities.

Talking to The Telegraph, municipal commissioner Rabi Narayan Nanda said the project was being implemented.

“In the first phase, we have received Rs 7 crore under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT). The Centre has assured further funds under the scheme for completion of the project following utilisation of funds,” he said.

Nanda said the project was aimed at fulfilling the “dream of the people of the city to turn it into a major tourist attraction”.

Cuttack had been the seat of sovereign powers who ruled Orissa. Its historical associations are also woven around the Barabati Fort, the Ganga Dynasty (1112-1435), Suryavamsi Gajapatis (1436-1540), Bhois (1542-1560) and Mukundadev, who was the last great Hindu ruler of Orissa (1560-68).

Cuttack remained the capital of Orissa during the reign of the Turko-Afghans (1568-90), Mughals (1591-1707), Nazims of Bengal (1707-51), Marathas (1752-1803) and the British from 1803. It continued as the capital of Orissa in post-independent India till it shifted to Bhubaneswar in 1958.

In its present drive, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which had undertaken work to develop a garden with avenue plantation inside the fort area, has agreed to provide technical support to the CMC for removal of silt and renovation of the moat.

Nanda said the ASI was renovating and restoring the stone wall of the moat while allowing the civic body to clear weeds that had grown in abundance on the water and made boating possible.

“The CMC has already given Rs 2.5 crore to the ASI from the Rs 7crore central assistance received under UIDSSMT for the project,” he said.

The corporation plans to lay the foundation stone of the project on August 31.

“We expect work on the moat to be over by February,” the commissioner said.

The integrated plan envisages development of adjoining lands lying vacant on all sides of the fort and the protected areas. It has been planned to convert the area into mini parks with water fountains. A musical fountain on the southern side will add to the beautification process.

“Fencing and landscaping work forms part of the project that aims at creating an amusement zone both for children and adult with an interpretation centre for tourists,” Nanda said.

“There will also be kiosks to provide self-employment opportunities to local residents,” he added.

An estimated Rs 10 crore is expected to be incurred on the integrated development plan to turn Barabati Fort into an exclusive tourist spot.

“We have Rs 7 crore and we expect more funds by March 2011,” a CMC official said.

“It a good project but much will depend on how it is implemented,” said local resident Parthasarathi Behera.

The 48-year-old entrepreneur’s scepticism is not without reason. Nearly a year ago, CMC had planned to change the landscape by highlighting vignettes of the city’s past on its walls. The CMC had hoped to rope in private players but the project failed to take off.