Bhubaneswar: With urban space in the city changing rapidly, the Smart Janpath Project along the Vani Vihar-Sishu Bhawan Square corridor has metamorphosed into a safe, admirable and enjoyable place for friends, families, students and even small kids.
The places from Ekamra Plaza near Sishu Bhawan Square up to the Master Canteen Square where the construction of ‘I Love Bhubaneswar Plaza’ is in progress, people have started experiencing the beautiful lighting and ambience. Families and friends in groups are coming in large numbers just to hang around, take selfies and capture the wonderful moments together.
Tulika Panda, a young entrepreneur and mother, said: “Since my childhood days I have been here in the city, but the way the Janpath’s transformation is happening, I am really fortunate to see the vibrant change. Now I can proudly say that Bhubaneswar has become the happening city of the East and with development and sports facilities the transformation is bold and beautiful.’’
Devi Prasad Patra, a consultant with a state government project in the city, is of the opinion that the city has suddenly become a beautiful, happening and elegant urban space and the lights, landscaping and beautification have added to its charm. The Smart Janpath, which has taken shape from the Sishu Bhavan-end, has become a safe hangout zone for the young public and they are enjoying a lot.
Ipsita Mishra, homemaker of the Old Town area in the city, said: “The gateway to the Old City near the Ekamra Plaza might have become a sought-after selfie zone; but it beautifully represents the combination of the old and new at the beginning of the Smart Janpath. I wish the wonderful work would make the entire Sishu Bhawan-Vani Vihar stretch colourful in the near future.”
Aurora, a Class V student of DAV Public School Pokhariput, feels that the new look of the Capital has come as a nice achievement for the Smart City in the making. “I know that our city’s development proposal was based on a child-friendly concept. And, after seeing the development and the safe ambience I feel that it will be a reality very soon. The bus queue shelters along the Janpath are also looking great.’’
Tushar Nayak, an engineering student, said: “During evening not only waiting for the Mo Buses, but sitting and roaming around the bus queue shelters (BQS) have become a good `time pass’ for our group and we are happy that more people are getting inspired to ride Mo Cycle as many public bicycle sharing stations are right near the BQS.”
Photo enthusiast Niladri Bihari Panda, a senior manager in RBI, Chennai, who visited the city recently, said: “To me the transformation in my city has brought a new look and spirit. I think the entire city has become such a sight that everywhere people are just waiting for a while and taking selfies. I think it would be apt to call my city now a Selfie City.’’
The redevelopment of Janpath Road includes streetscape design, beautification, landscaping, intersection redesign, and infrastructure upgrades with construction of new pavement, rehabilitation of existing pavement, construction and/or rehabilitation of major and minor bridges, culverts, road intersections, interchanges, drains, etc.
