Konark Heritage Area Plan To Make It World Class Tourist Destination

Konark Heritage Area Plan To Make It World Class Tourist Destination

The Sun Temple at Konark is not just an UNESCO World Heritage site but also the pride of
Odisha’s glorious past. It attracts millions of visitors every year from all around the world. The
Odisha government is determined to leave no stones unturned in order to provide world class
infrastructure and facilities in and around Konark.

In order to make this happen the areas around the stone marvel are all set to undergo a sea of
change soon. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday gave a thumbs up to the draft of
Konark Heritage Area Development Plan which will accelerate the pace of development around
the 13th century monument dedicated to the Sun God.

The purpose of the project is stated to ensure safety and security of the temple, attract more
tourists and the economic development of the local traders dependent on tourism. Konark is one of the most famous destinations for visitors to Odisha and many people who live nearby are
dependent on tourism for their source of income. With the development of infrastructure, it is
expected to bring in more revenue for the locals.

As per the plan, all the roads leading to the temple will be developed into six-lane, especially the
3.5 Km long outer ring road of Konark. This will help in boosting connectivity with nearby tourist
destinations like Puri, Kakatpur and Bhubaneswar.About 35 acres of area around the temple will
be developed with landscaping and other tourist amenities. A special road will also be
constructed for pedestrians.

All access roads from the outer ring road to the Konark Heritage Zone will be developed to
facilitate ease of movement of visitors by creating pedestrian friendly streets. All major junctions
leading to Puri, Kakatpur and Bhubaneswar will be improved to facilitate smooth traffic
movement. Dedicated drop-off and pick-up points will be developed for the convenience of
tourists and hassle free traffic management.

According to the plan street vendors will be relocated to one place with systematic planning.
The existing parking area to the north-east corner of the will be extended and improved to
accommodate buses and four wheelers along with paratransit services. The new and improved
parking lot will have space for e-vehicles and charging points.

An entry plaza for the visitors and a renovated open air theatre are going to be some major
attractions for tourists according to the development plan. The Chief Minister has invited
suggestions from citizens regarding the draft plan within 21 days. The project will be developed
under Odisha government’s 5T initiative.