Lake Zone-II to be the new address for entertainment in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 12:

Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has chalked out a Rs 50 crore plan to turn ‘Lake Zone-II’ into the new address for entertainment in Odisha’s capital city.

The water body of ‘Lake Zone-2’ situated between the Sachivalaya Marg and Janpath that touches the Bayababa Mutt, Unit-9 Colony and Central University at its edges would be designed on the lines of BDA city center and would have facilities for visitors across all age groups.

There would be four entrances and four exits and a large shopping complex consisting of 200 stalls. The shopping complex would house a food court, handicrafts stalls and a shopping mall. The new park would also have adequate space for parking of two and four-wheeler vehicles, water fountain, boating arrangements, medicinal garden, orchid garden etc.

As per the new plan, the 29 acre land of ‘Lake Zone-2’ would be divided into three different categories such as kid zone, youth zone and old age zone and would have facilities accordingly.

The kid zone would have station toys, swings, a fountain, stair games, water games, party venue and an amphitheater. The youth zone would feature dense bushes, fragrant flowers, water games and a cafeteria with seating arrangement that would allow privacy. The old age zone would house a library, resting benches and a jogging tracks.

Apart from the three separate zones, a separate place would be designed in a manner that would allow visitors across all age groups. This would house a theater named ‘Bhubaneswar through Ages’ which would display information about the history and heritage of the city. This would also provide tourist information to the visitors.

The biggest obstacle to this project, however, is going to be illegal land encroachment.

“As of now, more than 900 families have encroached the place. The project can only take shape after the illegal encroachments are cleared.  The Detailed project Report (DPR) will be prepared after the land is freed and a tender call notice would be issued for the project. We are soon going to start the demolition drive there,” said a senior BDA official.