Bhubaneswar: The development authority has decided to redevelop an open space at Kalinga Nagar into a full-fledged park shortly.

To start with, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority will work on the garden inside the park involving the horticulture wing. A fund of Rs 4.89 lakh has been sanctioned for the work.

"We have issued a tender to select nurseries or any other similar agencies for the horticulture work inside the park. Once the tender gets finalised, the executor will get a month's time to complete the work," said an official of the development authority.

The official said the agency would come up with detailed plans for the development of the garden inside the park. "The agency will provide us with the plan and the saplings, which is to be used in the park. We will verify and approve the plan thereafter," said the official adding other development work would be taken up inside the park later.

Residents are excited over the decision of the development authority to develop a full-fledged park at Kalinga Nagar. They want more development initiatives in their area, which is deprived of quality civic services.

The Telegraph had, in the past, reported several times about the lackadaisical attitude of the administration in extending quality civic services to Kalinga Nagar residents. The area still lacks proper roads, drainage system, streetlights and other amenities, including drinking water, pubic toilets and more.

"There are more than 5,000 people living in the area, which was developed by the development authority under plotting scheme. They have developed the residential areas, but have overlooked on the quality civic services. I hope after the park, authorities take up other development work in our area," said local resident Vishal Mehta.