Often criticised for frequent water logging around the Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa government has decided to complete peripheral infrastructure development activities at the world famous heritage site by March 2013.
A decision in this regard was taken at a high level meeting chaired by State Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik yesterday.
As the drainage system in the Sun Temple faces tough time during monsoon, elaborate arrangements will be taken up for proper discharge of excess water from the temple premises during the project implementation, a senior official said.
Though around 20 lakh tourists visit the Black Pagoda every year, there was apparently no facilities for them.
While the ASI was looking after conservation of the temple, Indian Oil Corporation has taken up peripheral development of the tourist place. A project worth Rs 33 crore has been planned for the infrastructure development at Konark, tourism minister Debi Prasad Mishra said.
The government has also asked the planners to develop infrastructure around the temple keeping an eye on the estimated tourist flow to the temple in 2020.
Besides creating landscape around the temple, it has plans to develop an interpretation centre to facilitate tourists.
Plans were also being made for proper parking arrangement, drop out point, visitor halting space main venue and rest rooms.
