Sambalpur: The residents of this city have been gifted a smart park, officials informed Tuesday. The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) has dedicated the venue, which has been developed adjacent to the planetarium and the Science Park premises in Burla locality of the city, to the public on the occasion of the local self-governance day, August 31. “The smart park is slightly different from the normal one. In normal parks, there is an area for plants and a separate place for recreation. In smart parks along with plants and trees, emphasis is laid on installation of different types of equipment and providing various facilities,” said an official of the SMC. The smart park can be used not only by children and youth but also by elderly persons.
Amenities that have been provided inside the smart park include an amphitheatre, yoga platform, and a scenic walking stretch. Apart from the playing equipment for kids, beautiful decorative energy-saving lights have also been installed in the park, the official informed. Among other facilities provided are washrooms and ATMs. Enforcement officer of SMC, Subhankar Mohanty informed that the park has been developed over an area of two acres at a cost of approximately Rs 2 crore. Mohanty informed that Burla is home to Sambalpur University, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), and Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR). Burla is considered an educational hub due to the presence of such institutes. Mohanty pointed out that the students will get a beautiful recreational place with the establishment of the park. Moreover, tourists who come to Burla to visit the Hirakud Dam, Nehru Minar, Zero Point, planetarium, and Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary will find an added attraction in the smart park, added Mohanty.