(From top) Netaji auditorium construction under progress, de-weeding work on at Ganga Mandir Tank as a part of the destination Tourism Project work near Netaji Birthplace Museum and renovation work under way on a northern bank of Ganga Mandir Tank in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 12: The tourism department’s plan to transform the Netaji Birthplace Museum’s surrounding area into an amusement and recreational zone is making tardy progress.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of the project on the occasion of the 114th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23, 2011. The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation was supposed to complete the project within a year. But, it has been going slow for over two-and-a-half years.

An official of the corporation said the work pace had remained slow due to the state government’s restriction on inviting tender bids (not more than Rs 50 lakh) for the construction. Consequently, the project was being implemented by inviting tender bids in phases.

“But now, things will move faster as the government norm limiting tender bids to less than Rs 50 lakh was withdrawn last month. We hope to complete the project by the end of this year,” assistant engineer of the corporation Sridhar Mahala told The Telegraph today.

The plan is to refurbish the Ganga Mandir tank adjacent to it and develop infrastructure of a boating club and a floating jetty on the water body. The project also included construction of an auditorium named after Netaji with a state-of-the-art public convenience-cum-interpretation centre related to the museum.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 2.36 crore for the project.

Construction of the auditorium has been limited to a circular core structure, while refurbishing of the tank with concrete packing is done only on its northern part.

“We will shortly invite tenders for the tank’s work and development of the proposed club and jetty. Tenders will also be floated to complete the Netaji auditorium’s work along with that of the public convenience-cum-interpretation centre,” Mahala said.

“The centre will be equipped with facilities to initiate visitors into the life and times of Netaji and also house conference and meeting halls. Kiosk as well as souvenir and memorabilia shops would be set up inside it,” the official said.

“Toilets, lavatories and other basic amenities will be provided for the visitors here,” he said.

Another official said encroachments had also added to the delay in the refurbishing work on the Ganga Mandir.

“Development of the tank is essential to keep the area free from criminal activities after sunset,” said resident of Ganga Mandir Sivacharan Bose.