The Market Building in Unit-II was designed to replicate the famous Jain heritage site — the Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves. The pillars of the building were designed to resemble those of the heritage structure (below), as were the enclosures in which the shops are housed. The designs of two towers on either side of the market building — the western and eastern towers — were also inspired by the heritage caves. These have now been hidden by monstrous billboards (circled in red) that have come up in front of the building. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 18: Large commercial hoardings are spoiling the aesthetics of the Market Building in Unit-II that has been modelled on the lines of the famous Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves.

Conservationists have sought immediate action by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in this regard. The civic authorities have promised to meet the traders and talk to them on the issue.

Bhubaneswar, referred to as the Temple City, has inspired many architects over the years because of its beautiful temples. However, with the city growing bigger, the aesthetics of the old structures are at the stake. The Market Building is one such structure that has been hit with hoardings flooding most portions of the market.

“The city was planned in the post-Independence era. With more than 60 years of its existence, many old structures have already attained heritage status. We have to maintain their aesthetics and original designs. The traders should be asked to maintain uniformity while designing hoardings and their sizes. Unnecessary encroachment of buildings should be discouraged,” said Akshaya Beuria, a leading architect.

Otto H. Koenigsberger had prepared the original town plan of Bhubaneswar in 1946. Subsequent building plans were planned by architect Julius Vaz. The lack of proper upkeep of the architectural signature (temple design concept) in the buildings has drastically changed the way that Koenigsberger and Vaz had planned the city.

Urban management practitioner Piyush Ranjan Rout claimed that the associates of Vaz had adopted the design of the Market Building from the Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves.

“The Market Building was designed after the new capital city was constructed and it successfully amalgamated the temple architecture. But now, the traders have completely blocked the view of the eastern and western towers on both sides of the building. In many places the walls and the facades have been completely changed with drastic alterations. This has become an eyesore and has to be stopped immediately. The civic authorities should take appropriate steps and do the needful,” said Rout.

Beuria, also chairman of Indian Institute of Architects, Odisha Chapter, said: “The state government has already initiated the process to have a uniform colour code in the Old Town and restrict mobile towers around heritage structures. Now, there will be guidelines on the hoarding types, size and display in the planned city area and the tourism and culture department will coordinate with the civic body to make it happen.”

Artist and art educator Minaketan Patnaik said: “The old designs and building architecture should be treated as heritage sites and the state government and other agencies concerned must ensure this. Old buildings in Unit-I, Unit-II and other areas in Bhubaneswar should be preserved for future generations.”

According to the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003, the urban local body in the city — the municipal corporation — is the competent authority to take action against erring persons using hoardings to deface buildings.

Municipal Commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra told The Telegraph that the civic authorities were aware of the situation at Market Building.

“We will organise a meeting of the traders soon and try to educate them on having a uniform type of hoarding and keeping the facade of the building free from a cluttered look,” he said.