SAMBALPUR: The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) will soon start beautification of Mahanadi river side along Ring Road in the City. Informing this, Commissioner of SMC Bimalendu Ray said the beautification of river side will be undertaken in three phases. In the first phase, beautification work on about one km stretch from Samaleswari Temple to Rajghat will be undertaken. The civic body has already floated tender for the first phase work, he added.
The estimated cost for the first phase work is about `98.04 lakh and it will be completed within a period of 12 months from the date of handing over the work order to the selected construction firm, he informed.
Altogether, a length of three km from the approach road of second bridge over Mahanadi river near Nelson Mandela Chowk to Mandlia Chowk will be taken up for beautification funded by the State Government. The total cost for the project has been estimated at `3 crore. Under the project, development of pathway, beautification of retaining wall, construction of river view points with sitting arrangement and renovation of existing ghat will be carried out.
This apart, landscaping, plantation, installation of designed planter box, lighting arrangements, fixing of ornamental grills, fountain, water supply system, garbage bins and other decorative items will be installed to attract visitors. The seven-km Ring Road, which was constructed in 1997 with an objective to protect the city from flood and provide an alternative road to the city, runs along Mahanadi river which flows through the city. The Ring Road connects NH-6 at Laxmi Dungri Hill on one side and Nelson Mandela Chowk on the other side.Apart from attracting visitors to get a glimpse of the Mahanadi from the river view points, hundreds of morning walkers will get the feel of a beautiful ambience after completion of the project.