Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) plans to transform a 3-km stretch of storm water channel 10, including BDA City Centre (formerly Nicco Park) and the Lake Zone near Janpath, into a modern public recreational area at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. The state government has approved the proposal.
The project involves developing the area along natural drain no. 10 from BDA City Centre to the Lake Zone on Janpath Road. A detailed project report and cost estimate will soon be submitted for funding, as per sources. Reports further stated that efforts are underway to terminate the current public-private partnership and transfer full control of Nicco Park to BDA, which is evaluating equity shares of all stakeholders to establish compensation and ownership arrangements.
Established in 1996 through a partnership between the BDA (49%) and the Nicco Group (51%), Nicco Park was built on a 24-acre site near a natural drain by the state secretariat, with construction starting in 1997. The park was severely damaged by the 1999 super cyclone. Despite the Nicco Group obtaining loans from IPICOL for repairs, the park struggled to recover, remained unprofitable, and suffered from neglect, resulting in poor maintenance and declining visitor numbers.
In 2007, BDA outsourced park operations to Sun Tech City Pvt Ltd, renaming it BDA City Centre. However, the park continued to face operational issues – pollution from Drain No. 10, illegal encroachments, toxic water in the boating pond, and neglected amusement facilities that frequently broke down. Cyclone Fani in 2019 further damaged the park, leaving it abandoned. The BDA City Centre will undergo a complete makeover with modern amenities such as enhanced lighting, beautification, a herbal garden, an Ayurvedic park, pathways, foot over bridges, and fine-dining restaurants and hotels. The first phase will prioritise the redevelopment of the city centre.
The project also includes restoring the storm water channel near the Lake Neutral project on Janpath Road near Satya Nagar, which has progressed slowly since 2017. It will feature a wastewater treatment plant, public recreational spaces, plantation areas, and roadside gardens, the reports added.
