Bhubaneswar, Feb. 26: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is planning to transform the 45-acre Buddha Jayanti Park into a modern recreation centre with a Buddhist theme.

While a huge statue, more than 100 feet high, will adorn the central part of the park, there will be other attractions such as a cultural complex and a museum on Buddhist themes.

“The huge statue will be decorated and illuminated, so that the landscape becomes a beautiful landmark and can be seen from a distance,” said BDA’s chief horticulturist Ashok N. Dhar.

The project is estimated to cost around Rs 100 crore and there will be sports facilities such as trekking and rock-climbing since the available area is part of a hillock. There will also be a huge water body with the present small artificial lake set to be renovated.

The city development authority is planning to have an exclusive flower garden and an enclosure to house butterflies of several varieties.

Because of the high cost of the project, the state government has been requested to advise on the nature of involvement. “We will get the direction from the state government whether to go ahead on our own or opt for the public-private partnership. At present, a part of the plot has a boundary wall and work is already on,” the horticulturist said.

Debasish Mohaptra, owner of a travel agency, said it was a good move on part of the government to promote tourism. “It is surprising that though the propagation of Buddhism started in the past from the land of Kalinga, it took the authorities so long to come up with this idea. Many such huge Buddha statues are seen in Thailand and Vietnam,” he said.

The BDA horticulturist added that the Buddha Jayanti Park was set to become a major landmark based on Buddhism. “We have already prepared a database on various Buddhist sites around the world to get ideas on the designs and motifs. We will also take the help of Odia artisans, who have created a niche in the world for their expertise on the Buddha-based stone carving,” he said.

At present, the BDA has constructed an amphitheatre inside the park and the museum is nearing completion. “The contractor will hand over the museum complex to us very soon,” said a BDA site officer.

Buddhism has a special link to Odisha and many foreign tourists come to visit Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and the Dhauli peace pagoda. “The landscape of the Buddha Jayanti Park will also have an eco-resort, three art galleries, food plaza, craft bazars and a multiplex. No infrastructure developed by the BDA, so far, has a multiplex. All the designs will follow green building construction technology to ensure minimal loss to the green cover,” said the horticulturist.

The park was inaugurated in 2000, but the jogging tracks were added last year. A dedicated parking space and toilets are also being built. The park will also have an independent interpretation centre to make people understand the Buddhist culture and the contribution of the state towards the spread of the religion.