The park under construction near Satya Sai Enclave in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati.

Bhubaneswar, June 26: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started working on developing a community park at Satya Sai Enclave in Ainginia for Rs 21 lakh. The park will be ready in two months.

The park, spread over an area of 3,230sqmt, will be developed in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode by the corporation and the Satyasai Enclave Residents’ Welfare Association, a body formed by the members of a housing colony near Khandagiri on the outskirts of the city.

The park will have jogging tracks and a badminton court apart from joyrides for children.

N.K. Pal, assistant engineer, in-charge of parks of the corporation, said: “The park will be constructed with a 10 per cent contribution by the local residents welfare association and 90 per cent by the civic body. However, for the next three years the maintenance cost would be shared equally by them.”

“We will not include fountains in the park. It has been observed that almost in every park developed by the civic body, either the fountain is misused or lies defunct. However, we will have a water source to irrigate lawns and plants. While the lawn work is over, plantation of the ornamental plants will be done soon,” the engineer said.

Samita, a homemaker and a resident of Sayta Sai Enclave, said: “For years we had been demanding a park, as there was no place for the kids to play. Although the housing colony had been developed long ago, recreational facilities were never planned.

“One has to take the kids either to the Jayadev Vatika or the Energy Park nearby. However, both the places do not have any facility for the kids to play. While the former is an ideal place for walking for the elders, the second one is a park serving mostly educational purposes.”

“The new park, when completed, will fulfil a long-standing demand. But, the civic authorities should add adequate lighting facility, so that people can avail it as a hangout zone in the evening,” she added.

Jyotika, a Class VI student of a nearby public school, who stays in the colony with her parents, said: “The rides and badminton court in the park will help in drawing kids. Without such facilities most of the kids in the colony are confined to their houses. However, this park will help them make friends.”

Another resident of the colony, Titu Das, said: “The step by the civic body to provide recreational facilities in the area is welcome. However, officers of the urban local body must see that the surroundings remain clean.”