State's highest peak set for a major facelift, says Parida
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Koraput: Deomali, Odisha's highest peak, is set for a major facelift with a host of tourist-friendly amenities under a master plan worth over Rs 50 crore, deputy chief minister Pravati Parida said.
During her visit to Deomali on Friday evening, Parida, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said that a comprehensive roadmap for the hill's development has been prepared, with work scheduled to begin soon after monsoon. "Eight months ago, I visited Deomali and decided to enhance it with modern tourist facilities. As per plan, within 18 to 24 months, Deomali will be completely transformed," she said.
She added that sanitation at the site has already improved compared to her previous visit.
As per the plan, a road from Kunduli, which is 23km from Deomali, will be developed and a dedicated parking space will be created at the foothill, from where shuttle services will ferry tourists to the summit. Facilities, including a food plaza, toilets, drinking water points and a dedicated trekking path, will be developed. Traffic to the peak will also be regulated.
In addition, a museum showcasing Deomali's history, an audio-visual room and a performance gallery for tribal dance will be constructed using eco-friendly materials, avoiding concrete structures.
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Tourism department officials said the project is currently at the approval stage and will take about 18 months to complete once cleared.
Located in Pottangi block, Deomali is among Odisha's most visited natural attractions, drawing 4.8 lakh visitors in 2024 alone.
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