Bhubaneswar, April 14: The development authority has finally taken up the job to revamp the community park at N-III locality of Nayapalli, which was lying in neglect for over one-and-a-half decades.

Construction of a main entrance, boundary wall, benches, tracks for morning walkers and joggers has been done at a cost of nearly Rs 20 lakh.

Local councillor Manasirani Sundaray said the horticultural part and beautification of the park would take some more time.

"We have earmarked around Rs 1 crore for complete revamp of the park and it will have children's play area, lawn, landscape and matching flowerbeds and plants for which funds will be made available," said Bhubaneswar development authority chief horticulturist Ashok N Dhar.

Residents and senior citizens in the past had urged the state general administration department to take steps to develop the park. The department owns all government land in the city.

The Telegraph had published a report "Red tape blues for Nayapalli park" on September 10, 2012, highlighting how it was lying in neglect even as two major wings of the state government - general administration department and Bhubaneswar Development Authority - involved themselves in a blame game.

Left in neglect and without proper fencing, the park had partly become a cattle shed and den for criminals, who used to crowd the place in the evening.

Members of Nayapalli Community Care Association had urged the administration department to transfer the land to the development authority following which the latter took the decision to initiate construction.

Sudam Chandra Basa, a retired scientist and former member of the community association, said: "This is a kind of achievement for the senior citizens of the area."

Former office-bearer of the association Nabaghana Tripathy said: "We are now extremely happy and thankful to The Telegraph for taking up the issue."

Sundaray said: "This will be a major achievement for me during my tenure as a councillor of the municipal corporation. My late sister-in-law Sanghamitra Samal also worked hard in realising this dream project as the senior citizens were always demanding the development of the park."