A portion of the Bhujanga Park is likely to get a facelift by October this year.
The one acre on the front portion of the park, comprising a garden, a radio tower and a children’s corner, is one of the few lung spaces available in the heart of the city — Ajjarkad. As you enter the park, you are greeted by a bust of Mahatma Gandhi, built to commemorate his visit to the place in 1934.
Till recently the news at 6 p.m. and other All India Radio (AIR) programmes relayed through the loudspeakers attached to the radio tower remained a big hit among the people visiting the park.
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The walkers’ track and herbal garden have lost their charm due to lack of maintenance. A couple of years ago the City Municipal Council had decided to take up the renovation of this portion, but the work did not begin. The CMC changed its decision and took up renovation of the first and second stage comprising about seven acres on the rear side. A tar road separates the front and back portions of the park.
A skating rink for the children will soon come up on the front portion of the park at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh. CMC Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak said the railings and floorings need to be fixed before the throwing the facility open for the public.
Separate quotations would be called for installing the railings. “We intend to hold a skating competition to mark the inauguration of the skating rink in October,” he said.
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The CMC would also spruce up the radio tower. “We want to restart the radio service at the tower and develop it into a heritage site,” Mr. Nayak said.
The herbal garden would also get a new look as boards displaying names of the plants and their uses would be put up. Play area would get few more equipment. The cost of the renovation is estimated at Rs. 5 lakh.
“We want to provide a nice environment so that families could come with their children and relax in the park,” Mr. Nayak said.