Bhubaneswar: The iconic and bustling Janpath Road in Bhubaneswar is all set for a makeover. The median of the stretch from Master Canteen to Vani Vihar will be redesigned, replacing the broken bamboo fencing on the median with sturdy steel grills.

The beautification plan also includes planting various species of flowering plants to enhance the road’s visual appeal.

Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) has invited a fresh round of tenders for the redevelopment project, which is estimated to cost around ₹60 lakh.

Initially, the Janpath median was secured with iron grills. However, due to lack of maintenance, they deteriorated. Later, green-painted bamboo fencing was installed. However, the bamboo fencing was not durable and gradually broke apart, often vandalised or misused by pedestrians crossing the road.

A senior BSCL official said the initial idea behind using bamboo was to provide a low-cost and eco-friendly barrier to protect the decorative plants on the median. “But it turned out to be ineffective, as people broke the fencing and used it as a shortcut to cross roads. Now, considering both plant protection and pedestrian safety, we are redesigning the median,” the official said.

The new plan involves installing mild steel (MS) grills. Along with the grills, seasonal flowering plants will also be planted to further beautify the Janpath.

The Janpath Road was taken up for development after Bhubaneswar was declared a Smart City in 2016. Since then, the road has seen major improvements, including wide footpaths, parking zones, and aesthetic lighting. At that time, around ₹106 crore was spent on the entire development, including the median beautification by BSCL.