Bhubaneswar, Oct 21 (IANS): The Odisha cabinet on Monday approved Rs 3,208 crore under the ABADHA scheme to make Puri a world-class heritage city.

The money will be spent under the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme over a period of three years, informed chief secretary Asit Tripathy.

Tripathy said that Rs 790 crore would be spent this year.

He said the government has already approved 15 projects under the scheme as the number of pilgrims visiting Puri is expected to grow manifold in the days to come.

The ABADHA projects include the construction of a Lok Seva Bhavan to house all government offices under one roof and two multi-level car parking, redevelopment of the municipal market and Acharya Harihar Square.

Besides, the government has planned several other projects including development of a heritage security zone, Shree setu project, Musa river revival plan, Jagannath Ballav Pilgrim Centre (JBPC), housing projects, Puri lake development project, Raghunandan library, Atharanala heritage project and the Matha development initiative.