Cuttack, Oct. 3: The Cuttack Municipal Corporation is now planning to introduce toy train facility inside Madhukunj Park near Madhusudan Nagar here in the city.

Sources in the civic body said a portion of the existing park would feature various joyrides. It would also introduce a battery-operated toy train for kids.

“We are planning something unique at the existing park and a major portion which is lying unutilised will be especially developed for the children,” said local councillor ward No. 13 Pallabi Bhagat.

Bhagat said the corporation was trying for the all-round development of the park. Though other children’s parks in city had swings, slides and other joyrides, they were planning to add latest equipment here.

“It would be for the first time that a children’s park would have a toy train facility which is still in proposal stage. We hope that our plans materialise soon,” Bhagat said.

The Madhukunj park is one of best maintained parks in the city. Spread over two acres, the park inaugurated in 2004, lacked adequate facilities for visitors.

The existing fountain at the park is lying defunct for the past few years and no step has been taken so far for its repairs.

“The fountain inside the park is lying defunct and no step has been taken by the authorities to remove the stagnant water that has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Uma Sahu, a visitor.

Sahu said though the park was being maintained properly, there was no seating arrangement for visitors. The authorities should initiate measures to install benches for senior citizens.

The park lacks proper parking facility along with public toilet. “The existing toilet inside the park is in dilapidated condition with cracks developing on the ceiling and side walls while no measure is being taken for its maintenance,” said Subrat Sahoo, another visitor.

Lalit Mohan Das, an executive engineer of the civic body said that efforts were initiated towards the all-round development of the the park.

“We have recently inspected the park and there is additional scope for initiating various developmental works. Steps will be taken for installation of benches, addition of more lights and repair of the defunct fountain,” Das said.

Das said as the park was located near the Barabati moat which was also being renovated, special emphasis would be given on its development and improvement of existing infrastructure would begin soon.