Sambalpur, Feb. 19: Construction for the much-awaited ropeway project, which will connect Jawahar Udyan with Gandhi Minar at Hirakud, will begin later this month.

Loknath Mohanty, an official from the Odisha Construction Corporation, which will execute the work, said: "It will take around nine months to complete the entire ropeway project."

A Calcutta-based firm, Damodar Ropeways Limited, has been entrusted with the responsibility to install the facility. "A team from the company had visited the site. The district collector had asked them to start work at the earliest," said Mohanty.

The ropeway will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore and the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited will provide funds for the project.

"The firm will first start the civil work. Later, four towers will be installed as part of the project. Ticket counters will also be built at the Udyan," Mohanty said.

Jawahar Udyan and the Gandhi Minar - located at a distance of 800 metres, are near the Hirakud dam. Both the destinations attract thousands of tourists from across Odisha as well as neighbouring states throughout the year. They are maintained by the Hirakud main dam division. The ropeway project, which will connect the both the places, will attract more tourists to Hirakud.

"The proposed project will definitely increase tourists footfall at Hirakud. The ropeway will be an added attraction for them. This will also be the first ropeway in this region," said an official from the Hirakud main dam division.

"Thousands of people regularly visit the Jawahar Udyan. During the winter season, the beautiful garden witness an average footfall of around 5,000 on a daily basis. A lot of tourists also visit the Gandhi Minar to get a view of the picturesque Hirakud dam from the top of the tower. It is a commendable decision to connect both the places with a ropeway," said Mantu Pruseth a local resident.

"The authority concerned should expedite the work and complete it as soon as possible. A water body has been developed at the Jawahar Udyan to provide visitors with boating facility. However, it is yet to begin. The authority should also take measures to make boating facility available to Jawahar Udyan visitors at the earliest," said Manoj Patra, another local resident.