Bhubaneswar, July 10: The construction of the wayside amenities centre, which will provide improved facilities to tourists on transit, at Nayapalli in Sambalpur district has begun recently.

The project is likely to be completed within one year.

District tourist officer Rabindra Dalei said the centre would be developed on two acres along the National Highway-55. Its estimated budget is Rs 1.5 crore.

"Tourists will be provided with facilities such as restaurant, rest rooms, souvenir shop, parking space, children play centre and others at the facility. Those, who come to visit Sambalpur, will get a good place to take break, rest, eat and spend some time during the journey," said Dalei.

The tourism department had proposed to set up the wayside amenities centre at Rairakhol in 2015 and also identified land. It had moved the revenue department for land allotment to implement the project in the same year. But, the land could not be transferred to the tourism department as some trees were coming on the way, causing delay for the work to begin. Recently, the state forest department accorded permission to the project, paving way for the work to begin.

"The work has begun. The firm, which has been assigned with the responsibility to execute the project, has started building the boundary wall," said Dalei. The district has seven identified tourist destinations - Sambalpur city, Hirakud dam, Ushakothi, Huma, Chiplima, Gudguda and Kendhara. Thousands of tourists from across the state and from neighbouring state visit these tourist places.

More than 10 lakh tourists from across the country had visited the identified tourist spots in 2015. The wayside amenities centre is expected to be helpful in attracting more number of the tourists to the district.

Land lease

Revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty on Monday constituted a committee to decide the various issues relating to the renewal of land lease in Puri. The committee will comprise the Puri Municpality chairman, executive officer and the tehsildar and submit its report within a month. Unutilised land will be taken back.