Statues to be set up at major squares of Cuttack

CUTTACK: The chaotic junctions of the city will soon get a facelift with installation of life-size statues. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), which has always invited flak for bad roads, water-logging, garbage and poor sanitation, has started beautification drive in all the major squares in the city. On Friday, some statues of animals and birds were installed in the Dolomundai square under public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. As a part of this, footpaths will be developed, installation of heritage electric poles, statues and artefacts will be done at junctions including Buxi Bazaar,  Madhupatna and Khan Nagar in the ensuing days. Besides road junctions, the civic body has started a number of city beautification projects in association with corporate houses.   Sources in the CMC said the road connecting Badambadi with Khan Nagar had also been included under the beautification project and the work will be completed by Dussehra. Earlier this year, tiled footpaths along with mid-verge landscaping was done at the Ring Road. Similarly, tiled footpath, grilling and landscaping of the mid-verge have also been done in the 1.5-km stretch from Satichoura to Bidanasi at the cost of  Rs. 50 lakh.   “The beautification drive of major junctions of the city began seven days back and we are expecting to cover some major areas by Dussehra. The rest will be completed in the second phase before Bali Yatra,” said CMC Commissioner R N Nanda.   He said emphasis is being laid on beautification of road stretch from Khan Nagar to High Court Chhack where sitting arrangements for riverside viewing and streetlighting provision besides other facilities will be made. An amount of  Rs. 1.5 crore would be required for the purpose. “Talks are on with various PSUs and business houses for beautification of other parts of the city like Madhupatna,” Nanda added.