Revival plan for public parks in Berhampur

Berhampur: The Berhampur Municipal Corporation has initiated steps to renovate parks in the Silk City. “The Gandhi Park, situated on the Ramlingam Tank Road near the civic body office, was renovated about three months. We have arranged about 30 decorative lights with music system fitted in it,” said Sukant Sabat, junior electrical engineer of the corporation, who is in charge of the Gandhi Park. “A fountain system and play equipment for the children, including a merry-go-round, has also been provided to the park,” he said.

“The park remains open from 4pm to 9pm. Every morning, we trim the grass and clean the park for evening’s visitors. The park is open to all with a very meagre entry fee. The low-priced entry ticket is just a token to create awareness among visitors about maintaining cleanliness on the park premises,” he said.

The Nehru Park, situated on the Railway Station Road in Hillpatna, also wears a new look. The Nehru Park was made open to the public after renovation last year. Pratyush Majumdar, a student of De Paul School and a resident of Shanti Nagar, said: “I like the Gandhi Park a lot. I visit the park with my mother whenevr I get an opportunity. Earlier, the park was in very bad shape and there were no lights inside it. But, things have changed now as authorities have taken initiatives to renovate it.” K. Bhaskar Reddy, 70, a resident of BRIT Colony at Neelakantha Nagar, said the parks of the city were the only places where one could indulge in some leisurely activities. “The city is growing rapidly and there is no space for the elderly to spend a few hours amidst peace and tranquillity. I have witnessed the evolution of the Gandhi Park. These two parks have now become attractive options to spend leisure hours” he said.

However, M. Tejeswar Swamy, councillor of ward No. 13 of the corporation, asked for more steps to be taken by the Berhampur Development Authority to further develop the Biju Patnaik Park on the Corporation Road. “The lighting facilities in the Biju Patnaik Park are not adequate. Also, the authorities should initiate steps to deploy more security guards there,” said the councillor.

Source: The Telegraph