The road near Guru Kelucharana Mohapatra Park awaits expansion
Bhubaneswar: In a major push to decongest the busy Jaydev Vihar-Nandankanan road, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has floated a Rs 77-crore tender for construction of a 45-metre-wide road connecting Guru Kelucharan Park in Gadakana to Patia railway station.The proposed comprehensive development plan road, according to the tender issued recently, would be completed in 18 months and be a part of BDA’s larger plan to create alternative arterial corridors to ease traffic pressure on one of the city’s busiest stretches, primarily the Jaydev Vihar-Nandankanan road.The tender comes close on the heels of BDA’s decision last year to acquire 18 acres of private land for the project after holding a mandatory public hearing under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.“This road is crucial from both mobility and planning perspectives. Once completed, it will directly connect Patia railway station with the right parallel road near Guru Kelucharan Park and significantly reduce vehicle load on Jaydev Vihar-Nandankanan road,” said BDA vice-chairman Chanchal Rana.Officials said the proposed road, spread over nearly 3 km, will also boost connectivity to residential pockets in Patia, Chandrasekharpur, Gadakana and Damana areas apart from improving access to the railway station and nearby IT and institutional hubs connecting Infocity area.
Earlier, BDA conducted a public hearing where a majority of affected residents expressed support for the project. According to the social impact assessment report, 94 people in Chandrasekharpur, 58 in Patia and five property owners in Gadakana were affected by the land acquisition.“There was apprehension initially, but people were convinced once officials explained the compensation provisions under the Act.
Better roads will ultimately benefit everyone,” said Ramesh Behera, a resident of Gadakana area whose land falls along the proposed alignment.Another local resident, Sabita Mohanty of Patia, welcomed the move but stressed the need for timely execution. “Traffic has become unbearable, especially during peak hours. If the road is completed on schedule, it will be a big relief for commuters. Officials should focus on timely completion,” she said.Urban planning experts say the project could also have a positive economic impact. “Such high-capacity roads generally lead to appreciation in land value and better commercial activity. The Patia belt is already growing fast, and improved connectivity will accelerate the momentum,” said real estate expert Nigam Ojha.Notably, the authority has planned six alternative roads — three on each side of the Jaydev Vihar-Nandankanan road — as part of a long-term decongestion plan. “With this tender, we are entering the execution phase of one of the most critical links in the city’s road network,” officials added.
