Cuttack, June 2: The Swaraj Ashram, once the hub for India's freedom struggle and the Indian National Congress, is all set to have an integrated development.

A sub-committee consisting of officials from the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department, general electrical department and the culture department has been formed for the purpose.

"The plan for the integrated development of the Swaraj Ashram will be a follow-up action to the restoration and conservation of more than 160-year-old heritage structure by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach)," Cuttack district collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra told The Telegraph today.

The state government declared the ashram as a protected monument in 1986 under the Orissa Monument Preservation Act. In 1992, the property spread over 0.490 acres was vested with the state government according to the declaration by the court of the collector, Cuttack. But, physical takeover of the property was possible only in January 2004, following the eviction of unauthorised occupants on its premises. The Cuttack collector has since been its custodian.

In 2003, the Intach help was sought to convert it into a heritage tourism destination.

Official sources said the integrated development plan had taken shape at a preparatory meeting called by the Cuttack collector for the beautification of the ashram. The future of a dilapidated building on the ashram premises was discussed as part of the plan. Preparation of an annual budget for maintenance and management of the ashram, along with proper water supply and sanitation, was also discussed at the meeting.

"Another priority issue, which was identified for immediate attention, was the restoration of electricity supply to the heritage building," Cuttack MP Bhatruhari Mahtab, who attended the meeting, told The Telegraph today.

Electricity supply was disconnected more than eight years ago due to the non-payment of power bills of nearly Rs 1 lakh. Things are being managed by taking a temporary power connection from the office of the deputy director of information and public relations, which functions in a building on the premises.

In another development, the Rs 30-lakh project for increasing the stability of the structure, undertaken by Intach, is nearing completion. "We have completed the restoration and conservation of the main building. Interior work, along with displays, is expected to be over by the end of this month," said Intach (Odisha chapter) director Mallika Mitra.

The ashram's function was initially to train workers and facilitate Congress work. Gradually, it also became the centre of constructive programmes under the Congress before Independence. The propagation of khadi, prohibition, removal of untouchability were all discussed here during the period of the Raj.

The first batch of satyagrahis started their historic yatra from Cuttack Swaraj Ashram. The Banar Sena also functioned from here. The ashram played an active role during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

Located at Sahebzada Bazar, it formally came into existence in March 1921 around the time when Mahatma Gandhi was to make his first tour to Cuttack. On March 13, 1921, the first Pradesh Congress Committee was formed here with Pandit Gopabandhu Das as its president and, for the first time, 12 members were elected to the Congress committee.

Gandhiji first visited Cuttack on March 23, 1921, and had stayed at the ashram for two days. He addressed a public meeting on the Kathajodi riverbed on March 24, 1921.