Bhubaneswar smart city mission completes 8 years

As the capital celebrates eight years as a ‘smart city' on Sunday, the mission has brought about significant changes in its infrastructure as well as social aspects, but there are some areas where the authorities are falling behind in executing its aims, according to urban planners. Bhubaneswar's smart city proposal, announced on January 28, 2016, was adjudged the finest in the country for its financial viability and practicality in the implementation of several planned initiatives. Though many projects failed to take off or were abandoned in the middle, a few others have had an influence. The most ambitious project was the building of the town center district of Bhubaneswar between Bapuji Nagar and Satya Nagar. A vast 985 acres of land was designated for development along the stretch, with several sub-projects planned for implementation. However, many of the initiatives planned under the smart city proposal's area-based development component did not see the light of day.