Sankarpur-Udaypur marine drive likely to open before Puja

Kolkata: The much awaited marine drive connecting Udaypur in the Bengal-Odisha border with Sankarpur may be thrown open for the public soon, as the construction work for the same is on the verge of completion.

People can currently take a stroll along the sea shore between old Digha and New Digha, as marine drive exists only between these two places. The completion of construction work will now help people move between Udaypur and Sankarpur with the sea in the backdrop. There is also a plan to ply small battery operated vehicles to ferry tourists along the marine drive. It will connect many important sea beaches.

The newly built marine drive will start from Udaypur and then pass through New Digha, Old Digha and Digha Mohana before touching Sankarpur. The laying of roads has already been completed in these stretches and the marine drive is expected to be inaugurated before Puja this year.

The marine drive will further be extended up to Mandarmani. Beautification drives have also been taken up. There will be restaurants along the way where the tourists can have their food.

The Mamata Banerjee government has given a facelift to the beach towns in the East Midnapore district. Beautification drive has been given paramount importance by the local administration. After being prodded by the Chief Minister, the East Midnapore district administration had taken initiatives to begin the construction of three marine bridges, which Banerjee had proposed.

Following Banerjee's instructions, a sketch was chalked out to set up a marine drive in the area. The whole idea of marine drive was conceptualised by the Chief Minister herself. After coming to power, her government had taken up various development works along the sea beach in Digha, as a result of which the tourist footfall has gone up considerably.

The district administration officials believe that once the marine drive, which will come up within Puja, gets completed, it will attract a large number of tourists not only from the state but also from other districts.

The Irrigation department has already spent crores for development projects along the sea coast — from Old Digha to Udaypur.

The entire coast line has been concretised to prevent soil erosion. Sewer lines have been revamped and further beautification works have been taken up. Lighthouses have been set up as well.