Jajpur, May 10: The Odisha government has sanctioned funds for infrastructure development of Olasuni to attract more tourists.

Olasuni shrine is located on the top of the lush green hills on the border of Kendrapara and Jajpur districts.

Official sources said about Rs 1.76 crore had been sanctioned for the facelift of the shrine, which is considered to be a prominent tourist spot of Odisha. The rural development department will upgrade the road from the nearby national highway (between Daitari and Paradip) to Olasuni while the tourism department will provide basic amenities at the shrine.

“The funds have been sanctioned to develop basic public utilities at this tourist spot. The proposal includes upgrading the road from the highway to the shrine, establishment of an interpretation centre, construction of a parking yard, a rest shed and providing other basic amenities to the tourists. I am confident that the shrine will get a facelift with this renovation work, enabling it to attract more tourists,” said Jajpur collector Anil Kumar Samal.

Odisha tourism secretary has recently visited the shrine. The infrastructure development work is expected to start soon.

“Despite having a rich tourism potential, tourists normally do not come to this spot because of poor condition of roads. We had requested the local legislator several times to take up these issues with the government so that this religious shrine can be developed in a proper way. Responding to the demand of the local legislator Amar Prasad Satapathy, the Odisha government has allocated some money for the facelift of the famous religious shrine,” said Sarada Prasad Mohanty, a resident.

Local people have expressed happiness over the sanction of funds.