By: Lalmohan patnaikCUTTACK: A year after Netaji Birthplace Museum Trust took over a circular building from Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) to develop it as Netaji interpretation centre, the project is yet to take off. The state government is yet to release funds for the Rs 31-lakh project that was supposed to be opened to public on January 23, Netaji’s 122th birth anniversary.The OTDC had constructed the circular building with an auditorium for a public convenience-cum-interpretation centre at a cost of Rs 1.4 crore to transform the area surrounding the museum under a destination tourism project in 2016.After the new building was damaged within a year, OTDC decided to allow the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to maintain it and rent it out for public functions. But OTDC changed its mind when the trust wanted to take over the building.OTDC carried out the required repairs and handed over the renovated building to the Trust in January 2018. “Subsequently, a detailed project report (DPR) for the Netaji interpretation centre was submitted to the state government but the funds are yet to come,” Netaji Birthplace Museum Trust secretary Sanghamitra Satpathy told TOI on Wednesday.The release of funds is expected to follow after the executive body of the Trust takes up the matter in its meeting, said Satpathy, who is also joint secretary of the culture department.The Trust plans to come up with a gallery equipped with facilities to initiate visitors into the life and times of Netaji and kiosks that will sell souvenirs and memorabilia. Toilets, lavatories and other basic amenities would also be provided to visitors, said Satpathy.Earlier, the executive body of the Trust had decided to come up with a musical fountain on the precincts of the building. Initially, the fountain was supposed to come up in the garden of Netaji Birthplace Museum at Odia Bazar in 2016.

Stay updated with all the Latest Cuttack headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.