Bhubaneswar market to be upgraded under smart city project

Plans are being chalked out to modify one of the biggest and most-visited markets in Bhubaneswar – the Unit-IV market – with state-of-the-art infrastructure. According to reports, officials of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Bhubaneswar Smart City (BSCL), the special purpose vehicle executing the smart city projects in the city, are in the process of drafting the plans. After BSCL proposed the plan, city officials have reportedly met to discuss about the project modalities. A detailed project report will be prepared after finishing a survey to assess the existing infrastructure at the market. The DPR will be planned to completely renovate the market area. To complete the project, BSCL will appoint the consultants associated with the smart city projects. As reported, after deliberating on the funding pattern, it has been planned to raise funds through municipal bonds. The project report will also get prepared after consulting the vendors and other officials. The market has an area of over 4 acre and accommodates many vendors. Currently, the market vendors have been provided with allocated areas for vending. But that is not being followed, due to which the solid waste management system functions poorly. The civic body has reportedly taken over the market complex at Unit-IV, and has allotted shops to eligible vendors. The market has an unutilised multi-storey complex, which will reportedly be incorporated in the upgradation plan. The shops at the complex will be auctioned online. The modification is expected to start once the plan is prepared in the next four to five months.