A signboard for the proposed foot overbridge at Jayadev Vihar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, June 4: Shifting of the proposed foot overbridge 200 metres away from Jayadev Vihar Square on Airport-Nandankanan Road has triggered protests from local residents.

Jayadev Vihar residents gave a representation to senior officials of the city management group last week and urged them not to shift the proposed foot overbridge from the square. Now, they are planning to meet senior officials of the general administration department, who provide land for government projects in the city.

Authorities are planning three foot overbridges at Jayadev Vihar, Rupali Square and Master Canteen Square. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is the nodal agency to execute the project. But, the city management group consisting of the public works department, general administration department, Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police, corporation and the Bhubaneswar Development Authority finalised the sites.

Councillor of ward No. 20 Subhransu Sekhar Patnaik, who represents Jayadev Vihar, Indradhanu Market and Biju Patnaik College, said: “The bridge’s new proposed location near a shopping mall will not be convenient for senior citizens, who will have to walk at least 200 metres from the square to reach it. I am opposed to the idea of shifting it from the square.”

Earlier, the overbridge was planned near the flyover across the NH-5, so that it would originate from near the autorickshaw stand on the Jayadev Vihar side and end near a popular eatery on the other side.

President of the Jayadev Vihar Sanskrutik Unnayan Parishad Mahendranath Mohapatra said: “The need for a foot overbridge was felt because the management group officials took a wrong decision in 2010 to erect a divider at Jayadev Vihar Square.”

“In the name of beautification, a major portion of land at Jayadev Vihar Square was lost. The authorities should remove the barricade near the square and build a foot overbridge to benefit all,” he said.

Another senior resident of Jayadev Vihar Natabara Panda said: “Why are the authorities not taking into account the pedestrians’ view while making the design of footpath or foot overbridge? At Jayadev Vihar, the new footpaths have no cycle track. The city management group should listen to the voice of the people.”

Municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra said the location of the foot overbridge was changed according to its design requirement as there was not enough land at the square. In fact, the square is surrounded by private land and no government land owned by the general administration department is there for its construction.

“We have to look at various aspects, including provision of ramps for the physically challenged. As all these requires more land, which is not available at the place, we have to shift it,” said a senior municipal engineer.