Bhubaneswar, Aug. 18: The process to take Nandan Vihar, which is a part of Kalranhanga gram panchayat near Patia, under the wings of the municipal corporation has begun.

The move to make Nandan Vihar a part of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has been expedited following the inauguration of the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Bridge over the Kathajodi. The bridge, which has shortened the distance between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, passes close to Nandan Vihar.

This crucial link has brought the area into greater prominence. Urban development experts expect rapid growth in the region following the inauguration of the bridge.

The bridge has come as a boon for Nandan Vihar residents who for long have been demanding the inclusion of the area in the limits of the municipal corporation. This, they feel, will usher in better civic activities in the area.

The first step to bring the area into the urban fold has been taken with the residents conveying their no-objection to the move to the state government, said an official of the housing and urban development department.

"There is a process to include new areas under the urban local body's boundary. The gram panchayat concerned should not have any objection to the bifurcation. We have received the letter from the Khurda district administration where the panchayat has given its consent for the inclusion," the official said.

"Despite being close to the city, we are deprived of essential civic services. The roads are in poor shape and during rains there is severe waterlogging. We have written a number of times to the administration about our problems, but to no avail," said Ritesh Panda, a Nandan Vihar resident.

But Panda now has reason to be happy. With the possible inclusion of the area in urban limits, the civic body will get more than 30,000 voters to exercise their franchise in the elections next year.

Sources said the civic body was likely to increase its boundary with the number of municipal wards likely to go up to 75 from 67. The area adjacent to the Nandan Vihar is also under consideration for inclusion in the civic body.

"Such moves are usual before elections. When elections come knocking the government considers demands to bring more areas within civic limits," said a civic official.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said they were aware of the problems being faced by the residents living outside municipal areas.

"We receive many such requests for inclusion of areas outside our boundary for extension of better civic services. We are including the areas in a phased manner in consultation with the district administration," said Jena.

He added: "We need to take inputs from the residents of the areas concerned as well as our councillors, following which we will issue a resolution and forward it to the state government. Thereafter, the government will issue a notification and the areas will be included."

Hitesh Motwani, a resident of Nandan Vihar, said there were about 5,000 dwelling units where thousands of people live at present. "Besides, 25 big and small housing projects are in the offing here. The gram panchayat does not have the capability to maintain the colonies. It can be done properly by agencies like the municipal corporation. We are happy that a move has been made," said Hitesh, a software engineer.

Residents also requested the water resource department to reconstruct drains from KIIT Square to the right of Nandankanan Road with proper levelling till Budhi Nala to avoid waterlogging during rains. They have also asked the development authority to evict encroachers from the area.