Cuttack: The Biju Patnaik Udyan here is set for a makeover with the civic body initiating a Rs 78 lakh-worth project to revamp it.

The Cuttack Development Authority had developed the park sprawling over 36.5 acres at Sector 12 in Bidanasi project area with garden, lawns, hedges, flower beds and pathways since 1997. But, lack of maintenance had pushed it to bad shape.

Municipal commissioner Bikash Ranjan Mohapatra on Saturday said the corporation would spend Rs 78 lakh for the park's development under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) scheme.

It had asked the Centre's Engineers India Limited (EIL) to make a survey of the park and come up with a restoration plan, along with recreational facilities.

"We expect the restoration work to start at the Udyan within the next two or three days and complete it by March end," Mohapatra said.

"The project would include installation of rides for children, sitting and lighting arrangements, drinking water facilities and jogging-cum-walking track," Mohapatra said.

Bidanasi resident Satyajit Roy said: "Lack of maintenance and the depressing condition of the garden and lawns have apparently kept people away from it."

The park had been opened for the public in 2010 with entry fee of Rs 2 per visitor between 10am and 5pm. But later, public entry without any fee was allowed only between 5am and 8am as well as 3pm and 5pm.

As a result, only walkers used to visit the park.

"We have charted out a joint plan with the civic body to give a facelift to the park and reopen it for the public in a cleaner and greener state," the municipal commissioner said.