Gyana Patnaik Park in Bhubaneswar lies in neglect. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, March 25: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has decided to renovate the badly maintained Gyana Patnaik Park near Unit I Vegetable Market. The park spread over 1.2 acre will be beautified and the renovation work would be completed within six months, said a senior BDA officer.

“The boundary wall of the park has collapsed on one side and the area is covered with wild bushes. There is no water source inside the park,” he added.

Later, the park will be converted into an beautiful place with pathways for the nearby residents and visitors to go for a walk. There will be a lawn and landscape garden with flowering plants.

“We are also aiming at including a waterbody like a fountain or a small and beautiful pond inside. But so far nothing has been finalised on this aspect,” said a senior BDA officer from the horticulture wing.

“The park was earlier maintained by authorities of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). But as the maintenance was not proper, the area turned into waste land. Even the vehicles coming to the market with vegetables were either parked inside or near the park area after unloading their goods in the market. Without a proper wall nothing could be done to stop it,” another BDA officer said.

The renovation plan was part of the state government’s decision to handover 17 defunct parks to BDA that were either managed by the general administration department or BMC.

At present, there are 50 parks in the city out of which major five parks have separate play areas for children below 12 years. The development authority spends around Rs 2 crore annually for the maintenance of the parks. Many new parks have also come up in collaboration with the local residents’ associations.

Vice-president of Rajdhani Daily Market Traders’ Association, Tapas Dalai said: “In the past when Aparajita Sarangi was the BMC commissioner, there was a plan to provide extra space to the daily vendors inside the Gyan Patnaik Park area. However, the plan was later stalled as the original owner of the land, general administration department did not transfer the land to BMC.’’

“Development of the park by BDA is a good thing. But the authorities should also think about the condition of the daily traders. The condition of the Unit I market and especially the lower market used by the raw vegetable vendors should be taken care of and development process should start to upgrade it,’’ he added.

Secretary, Lower Market Society, Lingaraj Mohanty welcomed the BDA plan to develop the park.

“It will add to the aesthetics of the entire area and even provide a relief for the traders who will want to have some time off from their business and relax in the park.’’