Bhubaneswar, March 10: Visitors to four major parks in the city will get upgraded and better amenities as the development authority will renovate the facilities that witnesses huge footfall.
The work includes renovation of the water body, pathway and other things in Buddha Park at Chandrashekharpur, widening of the pathway in IG Park at Unit-II, renovation of the pathway and fixing of tiles on the path and providing drinking water facilities at Guru Kelucharan Moahapatra Park in Gadhakana. Besides, there would be pathway renovation and tile fixing in front of Madhusudan Park at Pokhariput.
A Bhubaneswar Development Authority official said the renovation would be carried out in response to the visitors' suggestions.
The Madhusudan Park will get a new look after the revamp. The visitors to this park and local people had suggested for the changes and the authority officials made a visit last month to take a look into the demands.
According to the new plan, the park will get a tiled walkway in place of the existing jogging track that is covered with small stones and chips. Besides, the jogging track will be extended to the rear portion and new tracks will be laid to allow people to move freely. Moreover, there will be drinking water facility, rain shelter, dustbins and wooden benches.
"Around Rs 60 lakh has been sanctioned for all the amenities at this park, and the work would shortly begin as we have called for tender from contractors to carry out the job. We expect to finish the work before the onset of monsoon," said chief horticulturist of the authority A.N. Dhar.
Another official said the existing pathway at the IG Park needed to be widened keeping the footfall in mind. Huge crowd gather here in the morning hours, and they need wider tracks for jogging. This park is one of the oldest amusement parks located at the centre of the city.
"Visitors have been demanding for wider tracks at the park. The existing tracks do not allow three or more people to walk side by side. So, we have planned for wider track, and around Rs 16 lakh has been sanctioned for the purpose," said an official.
The water body at Buddha Park needs renovation while there is a need for painting of the walls and installing grills on the park boundary as well. Besides, the platform made for yoga would also be renovated, along with the pathway. Here, the revamp will cost around Rs 40 lakh.
This park has been set up keeping the Buddhist theme in mind, and there have been several amenities for people to hang out.
People residing at Niladri Vihar, Shailashree Vihar and Chandrashekharpur use this park.
The Guru Kelucharan Park is slowly becoming an amusement spot for the local people. The park that was inaugurated two years ago is yet to get many amenities that would attract people to jog here and hang out.
"This is good that the authority is responding to suggestions made by visitors to these parks. We hope these parks would help people in many ways with all its amenities," said Unit-II resident Gourishankar Rath.