The ropeway will connect Budhraja temple with the wildlife conservation centre on the Brooks hill in Sambalpur. Telegraph pictures

Sambalpur, Feb. 26: The tourism department of Sambalpur is planning to install a ropeway between the Budhraja hills and the Brooks hill in the city.

The Budhraja temple atop the Budhraja hills is a major tourist attraction, so is the wildlife conservation centre on the Brooks hill. The distance between the two places is about 2km.

“The tourism department of Sambalpur had submitted a proposal to the government. The project was discussed at a meeting last month,” said district tourist officer Sanatan Naik.

“Apart from the ropeway, the department has also proposed to develop gardens, picnic facilities, parking lots, kiosks along the road flanking the right dyke of the Hirakud dam. There is a plan to beautify three islands on the dam along the right dyke,” said Naik. The tourist department has also proposed a boat ride from Zero Point of the right dyke to the Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary.

“If the mega destination development proposal is materialised, the tourist inflow will increase. It will also give a boost to the city’s business also,” Naik added.

Hundreds of people from across the district visit Budhraja temple and the wildlife conservation centre of Sambalpur everyday.

“If the ropeway between the Budhraja hills and the Brooks hill is constructed, it will attract more tourist to Sambalpur,” said Uma Pruiydarshi, a local resident.

Dilip Padhee, a local resident said the proposal to have a ropeway from the Budhraja hills to the Brooks hill was not new.

“In 1981, a proposal of ropeway from the Brooks hill to the Budhraja hills and from Budhraja hill to Laxmi Dungri, a hill on the outskirts of the city was conceived. But, it could not be materialised. Even a company of Gurgaon, which constructs ropeway, was also contacted,” said Padhee.