It’s time to say happy birthday to Bhubaneswar as the city is all decked up to celebrate its 63rd Foundation Day today. The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, had laid the foundation stone of the city on April 13 in 1948. German town- planning engineer Otto Kolenigs Berger had prepared the master plan of the city. On this occasion, legislators, development authorities and others share their vision for this fast developing temple city. While all of them wish to see Bhubaneswar as a slum-free, peaceful and prosperous city, some also stressed on collective effort to achieve this goal

Ananta Narayan Jena
mayor

I wish to see the 2030 Vision Plan successfully implemented so that Bhubaneswar gets a much-needed facelift. Heritage ponds would be developed, roads and drainage systems would be improved. I visualise a slum-free capital city and the people living in slums would be rehabilitated.

Bhagirathi Badajena
MLA, Bhubaneswar (North)

Besides emerging as a metro city, Bhubaneswar should remain firmly rooted in its culture. We had never imagined that this city, which was planned for a population of just 40,000, would accommodate nearly 14 lakh people. As more and more people are coming to Bhubaneswar in search of a better living, there is always pressure on its infrastructure. The number of slums have increased from 107 in 1997 to 377 in 2011. We have to look into this aspect and take steps for the rehabilitation of slum-dwellers.

Sanju Balbantaray
Nayapalli councillor

I would want development in Nayapalli, which is one of the better-known residential areas. The roads are ridden with potholes and not properly lit. We are working in this regard.

Bijay Mohanty
MLA, Bhubaneswar (Central)

My only agenda is to make the city slum-free. Bhubaneswar has developed as one of the greener and cleaner cities in the country and is being labeled as an information technology and education hub. With steady growth in population, I just hope Bhubaneswar remains the same, an old beautiful city where people can live happily and peacefully.

Vishal Dev
commissioner, Bhubaneswar
Municipal Corporation (BMC)

My primary aim is to ensure that Bhubaneswar emerges as a pleasant and peaceful city. I hope all services are decentralised for the benefit of the residents. They should also cooperate with the state agencies. There should be better coordination between the interdepartmental agencies like Bhubaneswar Development Authority, BMC and police.

Ashok Chandra Panda
MLA, Bhubaneswar (Ekamra)

Bhubaneswar should catch up with other cosmopolitan cities of the country. Even we should keep pace with the rapid urbanisation and try to provide basic amenities to the people. I wish to see a green, healthy and smoke-free Bhubaneswar.

Aruna Mohanty
Odissi danseuse

My vision for Bhubaneswar is a culturally vibrant, A-grade city where people, especially women, feel secure. In the face of rapid expansion and growing population, the town planners must take into account compensatory afforestation and breathing spaces so that the original beauty of Bhubaneswar is retained.