The Agula Bandha site for the park at Gosaninuagaon in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, July 23: Children here will have to wait for two years to get a park to play in while their family members enjoy themselves in a water kingdom, garden restaurant and artificial zoo.

The park will come up on an island in a pond called Agula Bandha at Gosaninuagaon in Berhampur and the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) will build it.

“The cost of the park would be approximately Rs 10 crore. Work on it has already begun. The park would be ready in two years,” said Shiba Shankar Das, mayor of the BMC.

“The area of the proposed park is around 20 acres and we will provide boating, amusement equipment, a water kingdom including a water park and slides, gym, library, garden restaurant, multi-purpose recreation hall, artificial zoo, an 1,800x2metre jogging track encircling the park and an indoor stadium,” the mayor said.

Another significant feature of the proposed park is that it will have a seven-metre statue of Lord Buddha on a pedestal from which the park takes its theme of peace.

“There will also be a hanging bridge connecting the island to the main land and these provisions will certainly attract visitors,” said the mayor.

Prabir Kumar Das, the chief architect of the park who has submitted a detailed project report, said the objective was to offer play opportunities to children of all ages with quality and safety in mind.

“The primary goal is to provide exceptional play equipment that are safe and enjoyable,” Prabir said. The park will be equipped with rockers, multi-play stations, climbers, stainless swings, hangers, see-saws, slides and other children’s play equipment.

“We also plan to expand the embankment of the pond and turn the 1,600 metre-long boundary of the area into a medicinal and herbal garden,” he said.

A musical fountain with lighting arrangements and gallery all around to allow the public to sit is also proposed.

The Biju Patnaik Sishu Udyan, situated at the Courtpeta Square here over three acres of land, was built by the Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) at a cost of Rs 21.74 lakh, but is yet to become functional.

Biju Patnaik Park at Corporation Road, spread over seven acres, is maintained by the BDA.