Spot the swing: The park at Palaspalli in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 8: A park at Palaspalli, built by the development authority, has been lying in a semi-comatose state for the past three years.

Landscaping of the park has been completed but some rides are yet to be installed. Consequently, it is yet to be formally opened to the public.

Local residents are a disappointed. “There are not many recreational facilities in the city, so the park should be opened to the public after installing the rides at the earliest,” said Mantu Samal, a local resident.

Pitambar Parida, who stays in Pokhariput and passes by park located on the Palaspalli-Pokhariput road every day, said: “The place had been lying unused for a long time. Now it looks good with a beautiful lawn and ornamental plants. It’s a pity that it is yet to be opened to the public.”

Children in the area, too, who occasionally come to the park but has lost attraction of the green stretch, cannot play on the defunct swings and rusted monkey bars. The light posts are ready but they are yet to be fitted with bulbs.

Srikant Mishra, another local resident, alleged that though this facility park was older than another park in Palaspalli, it was yet to be completed because of the development authority’s negligent attitude. “This one has green lawns and is well landscaped but does not have rides for children,” he said.

President of Palaspalli Residents’ Welfare Association Sukanta Kumar Sahoo demanded that immediate steps be taken to set up the facilities at the park and it should be thrown open to public as soon as possible.

“With good rides and proper care it will attract both children and adults,” she said. Sahoo added that local residents would approach the development authority to get the park ready.

Bhubaneswar Development Authority’s chief horticulturist Ashok N. Dhar said though the park was small, they had maintained it well with a portion being used as a pumping station for the colony. “The park has a nice lawn and ornamental plants along with landscaping. The rides for children can be installed at any point of time. We will plan these things according to the demands of the residents,” said Dhar. He promised that the lights would start working shortly.