Bhubaneswar: The state government has undertaken a project to set up motels along National Highways, State Highways and other roads connecting major tourist destinations.

The decision to this effect has been taken up by chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Considering the problems faced by the travellers along the highways, the project has been taken up as per the instruction of the chief minister for the convenience of the tourists and others vehicle-bound, especially the women, said finance minister Prafulla Ghadai. However, the motels will be set up in phases.

Ghadai said that the motels will be set up 500 metres from the road side to avoid accidents and traffic disruption.

The motels will be provided with parking space and other basic amenities for the benefit of the travellers, he added.

The project will be executed with the help of commerce and transport, excise and home departments.

These projects will be set up in coordination with various private promoters in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.

The government would identify at least five acres of land on the sides of the NHs crisscrossing the state for developing parking places, motels, restaurants, resting place and shopping centres.

At least 12 places have been identified along the NH sides in which both six and four-laning works are in progress, said an official.

These locations are, Phulnakhara in the Bhubaneswar-Chandikhol route, Sarwana on the Sambalpur-Bargarh route, Redhakhol on the Angul-Sambalpur route, Lahunipada on the Remuli-Rajamunda route and Ghatagaon on the Panikoili-Remuli route.

Similarly, projects like Chandanpur on the Puri-Bhubaneswar route, Basta on the Balasore-Laxmannath route, Barkote on the Biramitrapur-Barkote route, Khuntuni on the Cuttack-Angul route, Huma on the Girisola-Bhubaneswar route, Soro on the Balasore-Bhadrak route and a place before the Kharsuan bridge on the Chandikhol-Bhadrak route are the other locations.