Budharaja hilltop to be developed

In a bid to woo more tourists, the Odisha Government has sanctioned funds for the development of the hilltop of the Budharaja Reserve Forest which is located in the heart of Sambalpur city.

“An amount of Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned for this purpose. The developmental works will be undertaken on the 0.99 hectare of land on the hilltop of the reserve forest,” said District Tourist Officer Rabindra Kumar Dalei.

Steps would be taken to develop watch tower, public convenience centre, parking space, musical fountain, sitting arrangement, kiosks and other tourist amenities at hilltop of Budharaja reserve forest with the fund.

State’s Roads and Buildings Department would carry out the work, said Mr. Dalei.

The land on the hilltop, which belonged to the Forest Department, has been converted into non-forest land to undertake the developmental work, according to Range Officer of Sambalpur town forest range, Uttam Gadnayak.

The Budharaja Reserve Forest, spread over 63 hectare area, is a major tourist attraction in the city. The famous Budharaja temple located atop the hill, attracts thousands of the tourists and devotees from across the state. PTI