Bhubaneswar: Under the Smart City proposal to develop Smart Parks in the city, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have undertaken an initiative to redevelop the city’s existing infrastructure. Watch Tower, which was set up at Sahid Nagar recently, is one of the initiatives which is yet to be inaugurated formally.
According to the authorities, the Watch Tower will provide the visitors to the city a spectacular view of the Smart City.
BSCL has posted the picture of the theme park on social media stating that the “Unique 20-metre tall watch tower will help viewers observe the surrounding beauty of parks by providing a 360-degree view of the surrounding locality.”
The authorities have also mentioned, “People can walk all the way up to the top of the tower and click selfies as well as involve themselves in various activities like bird watching and photography.”
Several citizens have appreciated the idea of the Watch Tower but many have criticised the idea calling it wastage of money.
Lagnajeet Mishra, a social media user, writes, “Theme park for just basic necessities? What will be the ‘magnificent view’ at a height of 20 metres? Only big concrete buildings? I think it is a bad investment.” He was also eager to share his ideas for Smart City.
Another citizen, Smruti Sanchayita Satpathy, writes, “I do not agree with the theme park idea. Do something different without wasting money. Do not just by copy things from others.”
Questioning the BSCL post, Ankita S Mishra wrote, “Adding a Watch Tower will make the park smart? Don’t we have any architectural grandeur or technological advancement? We are just repeating what existed some 50 years back?”
Several social media users lauded the initiative and expected to have a beautiful Bhubaneswar under “smart city project”.
BSCL and BMC are making efforts to revamp the existing infrastructure including pathways, drinking water facilities, Children’s play equipment, splash pool, watch tower, open GYM and portable e-toilets among others. The authorities are keen to set up child-friendly components in the smart parks.