📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Quarterbacker
Travel
Hirakud Dam Region to Undergo Global Tourism Revamp
✍️ Pragativadi
🗓 20 Aug 2026, 09:47 AM
👁 4
The Hirakud dam area in Odisha is slated for a comprehensive tourism makeover aimed at attracting international visitors.
The Odisha government has announced a large‑scale plan to transform the Hirakud dam region into a destination that meets global tourism standards. The initiative will focus on upgrading visitor facilities, improving connectivity, and promoting the area's natural and cultural assets to a worldwide audience.
Key components of the project include the development of eco‑friendly resorts, the creation of interpretive centres that showcase the dam's engineering significance, and the enhancement of water‑based recreational activities. Authorities also intend to integrate local handicraft markets and cultural festivals into the tourism circuit to provide a holistic experience.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg, overseeing the state's mega integrated projects, reviewed the tourism blueprint and emphasized the need for sustainable development that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship. The plan is expected to generate employment opportunities for local communities while positioning Hirakud as a benchmark for tourism development in eastern India.
Implementation will be phased over the next few years, with initial infrastructure upgrades slated to begin by the end of the fiscal year. Stakeholders from the tourism, hospitality, and environmental sectors have been invited to contribute to the project's design and execution.
Key components of the project include the development of eco‑friendly resorts, the creation of interpretive centres that showcase the dam's engineering significance, and the enhancement of water‑based recreational activities. Authorities also intend to integrate local handicraft markets and cultural festivals into the tourism circuit to provide a holistic experience.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg, overseeing the state's mega integrated projects, reviewed the tourism blueprint and emphasized the need for sustainable development that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship. The plan is expected to generate employment opportunities for local communities while positioning Hirakud as a benchmark for tourism development in eastern India.
Implementation will be phased over the next few years, with initial infrastructure upgrades slated to begin by the end of the fiscal year. Stakeholders from the tourism, hospitality, and environmental sectors have been invited to contribute to the project's design and execution.