A kalyan mandap at Saheed Nagar in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, April 19: Marriage ceremonies and other social events will become much easier to organise with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation identifying locations to set up 19 more kalyan mandaps in the city.

While 17 of the proposed 19 locations belong to the general administration department, the Odisha State Housing Board owns the other two plots. The corporation has also forwarded the file seeking land from the general administration department and the housing board to set up the kalyan mandaps.

This year’s civic budget has sanctioned funds for setting up kalyan mandaps in areas that include Rasulgarh, Lumbini Vihar, Sundarpada, BJB Nagar, Patia, Maitri Vihar and Paika Nagar.

“After a discussion with the corporation members, we have identified 19 places to set up kalyan mandaps. We have kept in mind that these cover all areas of the civic body,” said city engineer T.B.K. Shroff.

At present, the corporation has seven kalyan mandaps in the city, along with two other community centres, where marriages and other social gatherings are held. However, during peak wedding season, the mandaps, which charges between Rs 9,300 and Rs 18,000 with facilities of lawn and parking, remain booked. This often forces residents to hire other venues at a higher price.

Moreover, many private community centres rake in huge money without obtaining prior licence from the corporation as the existing facilities are not adequate for the city with a population of nearly 9,00,000. Earlier, ward officers of the civic body had alleged that many house owners used their premises as community centres, generated huge solid waste and the civic authorities ended up cleaning them.

Mayor Anant Narayan Jena said the new mandaps would help the residents to arrange marriages and social events at a moderate price. “Once the land is allotted to the corporation, construction of the mandaps will begin,” said Jena.

Moreover, the corporation is planning to upgrade the existing seven mandaps in the city. Sources said tenders had already been floated for renovation of the venues. However, lack of proper parking place at the existing venues was a major concern for the residents and the authorities as well. Almost all the seven existing locations do not have adequate parking place, which often results in traffic chaos in the area during events.

“The authorities need to ensure sufficient parking place, along with all other facilities,” said Bharat Kumar Behera, a Saheed Nagar resident.