Cuttack: The five departments of the Odisha Government have joined hands to implement various developmental projects under the ambitious 5T initiative on the outskirts of the historic city in the Choudwar-Cuttack assembly segment for which Science and Technology Minister, local MP Bhartruhari Mahatab, former local legislator Pravat Biswal and Collector made an on-the-spot visit today.
The proposed site on a sprawling 126 acres of land has been earmarked at Nuapatna under Kayalpada panchayat in the district where eco-tourism, science park, planetarium and restoration of Nakachonipata linking Mahanadi have been planned to be built up in five phases.
The site is located near the satellite township of CDA in Cuttack city.
After the completion of the developmental projects there, it is also expected to attract a beeline of tourists to the famous holy abode of Baba Dhabaleshwar (Lord Shiva) on the island amid Mahanadi river and the tourists will also have the enjoyable experience on the swing bridge connecting to the shrine.
In his media reactions, Odisha Science and Technology Minister Ashok Chandra Panda informed, “Recently it has been marked that science park/centre and planetarium have been set up in various places. As per the policy adopted by the Science and Technology Department, the Chief Minister has taken a decision that science centre/park will be established in the 30 districts of the State. Accordingly, work has already begun for the first 10 such projects. Funds allocation has also been made in the budget. There will be 10 more in the second phase.”
He added, “Two places in Odisha have already had planetariums. The old one was set up at Bhubaneswar in 1990 during Biju Babu’s tenure, another at Burla in 2017. In addition, the State Government has decided to set up six more planetariums. They will be at Baripada, Keonjhar, Rayagada, Bolangir, Rourkela and Gopalpur.”
The Minister explained, “As I have spent my maximum time in the city here during my Doordarshan service period, I have much weakness for Cuttack city. When I was earlier the Tourism and Culture Minister, some sorts of activities have been undertaken then. Among those instances, Anand Bhawan is one. The Lingaraj Market Complex in Bhubaneswar Old Town area bears the contribution of present Cuttack Collector Chayani Babu (his previous tenure at BDA) and Krishan Kumar.”
“After visiting this site spreading over 126 acres of land, five departments have joined together to undertake the developmental projects here. Dredging will be made in the water body here, eco-tourism, science park and planetarium and several other developmental projects have been planned to be taken up. It would be improper now to speak on the timeline, but our concerted efforts are on for realizing them at the earliest opportunity,” he quipped.
Speaking to media, Cuttack Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani informed, “A very big 5T experimentation has been planned at Nakachonipata and Nuapatna areas of Kayalpada panchayat, only 7-minute travel by road from CDA.
Under the project, science park and planetarium will be set up by the State Science and Technology Department, eco-tourism by the Forest and Environment Department, the Mahanadi channel till Nakachonipata will be restored by the Water Resources Department while tourism and cultural centre has also been planned here by the Tourism and Culture Department.”
“This very big 5T experimentation will serve as a recreation and knowledge hub for the people of Cuttack. The large number of stakeholders will also earn livelihood,” he remarked.
Former Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal said, “I’m certainly optimistic of this dream project taking a shape soon. During my stint as an MLA, I had prompted some village…
