Bhubaneswar, April 25: Burla town, an educational hub of west Odisha located around 288km from here, will shortly boast of a science park spread over two acres.

Land has been identified for the proposed park. The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation will provide funds required for the project.

Official sources said the district administration planned to set up the science park near the under-construction planetarium, which would be dedicated to the nation by the second week of June and the work on the park would begin within one month.

Municipal commissioner Bimalendu Rai said the detailed project report and its estimate were being prepared. "Around Rs 1 crore will be required to develop the park," said Rai. Scientific instruments will be on display at the park to explain various theories to visitors in a simple way, said an official associated with the project. Visitors will be both educated and entertained at the park, he added.

The town is around 15km away from the Sambalpur district headquarters town. Several educational institutes such as the Sambalpur University, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology and the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research are located in Burla town. Besides, the Indian Institute of Management and the Gangadhar Meher University are located nearby.

The town is also a well-known tourist place where the Hirakud dam is located. Thousands of tourists visit the place to enjoy boating in the reservoir and watching migratory birds. "The science park will be an added attraction for the students, who visit the planetarium. Besides, the park will also be helpful in attracting more tourists to Burla," said local resident Ranjan Biswal.