The site at Acharya Vihar in Bhubaneswar where the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will build the model park. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 8: Walk, jog, exercise and even answer nature’s call without embarrassment at a model park that will come up at Acharya Vihar within a year.

Other parks too will follow this model’s example as the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation plans to build toilet facilities at older parks managed by it.

The corporation is going to build the model park in Acharya Vihar with facilities such as walking and jogging tracks, rides for children and most importantly, public toilets.

The authorities also plan to develop lush lawns for children to play and relax on.

Sources said the civic authorities would now ensure that all parks managed by the corporation had public toilets. The corporation would build toilets at older parks in phases. Although the corporation looks after 23 parks, most of them do not have basic facilities. People who visit these parks for walks or their morning exercises are the sufferers.

Municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra said: “The BMC-managed parks will now be equipped with all kinds of facilities so that the visiting public does not face any discomfort while spending their time there. We also want to set up spaces for sporting activities so that people can spend more time on their daily exercises. The development of the Acharya Vihar park is the first step in this direction.”

Local councillor of ward No. 24 Pramod Hembram said the tendering process of the park had been completed and the work would start shortly. “With an aim to complete the work within a year, the new park will act as a model for others as it will have toilet facilities. Local residents have been demanding facilities at the park for a long time. The foundation stone for the park was laid last year on Local Self Government Day on August 31.”

Residents of Acharya Vihar welcomed the decision.

Pinaki Mohanty, a resident of Acharya Vihar, said: “So many children and youngsters reside in Acharya Vihar. The new park will be a boon for them as well as for other residents. People from other areas also can also come to the park here as Acharya Vihar is connected by the city bus service and the NH-5 passes on its northern side. Youngsters will now have an option to spend their mornings and evenings constructively.”

BMC executive engineer (in charge) of parks Nanda Kishor Pal said not only should residents make use of the park and its facilities, they should also contribute to its upkeep. “After the Acharya Vihar park, other parks too will have toilet facilities. This will definitely help citizens. But local residents’ welfare associations should also keep an eye on the upkeep of the parks and the facilities that are meant to serve people in their neighbourhood.”

Urban management practitioner Piyush Ranjan Rout said the development of basic public conveniences inside parks would help in their better upkeep as visitors polluted parks maintained by the corporation. Many parks maintained by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority were also not equipped with toilet facilities and they should build them, he said.