Bhubaneswar: Planning a hangout or picnic in a natural environment in the heart of the city is set to get easier with the smart city authorities finalising plans to develop an artificial lake on Janpath.

The Lake Zone III project of the smart city will be developed near Saheed Nagar and have promenades, leisure zones, food and flower kiosks, resting plazas, viewing decks, activity zones, recreation and meditation zones. The authorities will spend Rs 47 crore to develop the artificial lake, which will also include a micro solar power plant.

It will also serve as a picnic spot for citizens and developed along the existing Natural Drainage Channel No. 10 running through the heart of the city. According to the project plan, the lake zone will be equipped with modern public amenities, including water ATMs and eco-friendly toilets.

"The objective of the project is to utilise the area along the natural drain flowing through the city to develop a recreational zone for citizens and provide spaces for recreational activities. It will also promote water management with safe discharge of storm water," said a Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited official.

He said a request for proposal inviting expert executors for the project was issued under the smart city mission.

"We have initiated a bidding process and it will be done in the first fortnight of January," said the official, adding that work would begin before March.

The smart city officials have made the Lake Zone III project a priority in the Smart City Mission alongside the Bhubaneswar Town Centre District at Master Canteen Square and Museum of Urban History at Unit-VI.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said they demarcated the project site with other government agencies in April. "It will require nearly 30 acres and will be executed on a priority basis since it comes under the smart city's area-based development plan. It will provide a world-class recreational facility to citizens," said Jena.

Saheed Nagar resident Minaketan Mohanty said the present situation of the drainage channel was not good. "The drainage channel is hounded by encroachment and the land is being under-utilised. Moreover, the stagnant water causes health problems. If the channel is redeveloped, it will serve benefit all," said Mohanty, who is a schoolteacher.