The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, along with its empanelled artists, have decked up the city railway station area to extend an artistic welcome to those stepping into the city for the Men’s Hockey World Cup.

The station area is grabbing attention with the artists painting the huge tin partitions put up to cover the ongoing construction sites at Master Canteen. The artworks include themes such as the recently introduced Mo Bus and Mo Cycle programmes of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).

“We have painted the boundary walls of various government offices and quarters across the city, but when it comes to the railway station, we encountered a problem since the ongoing work has given a bad look to the area. Our artists have come up with the idea to paint the tins and we have executed it,” said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Besides, the painting on the tin partitions, the administration has also installed a 20ft long “I Love Bhubaneswar” logo just outside the station. This logo has been illuminated with an attractive lighting system, while the administration is taking up plantation around the logo. Benches are being installed to give the place the look of a plaza.

“I have seen such logos only on television. It is for the first time that I am looking at such a beautiful installation. Looking at it, I feel proud to be a resident of Bhubaneswar. I have seen this two days back and today came with my family to click selfies with it,” said Niraj Singh, a resident of Surya Nagar.

A similar installation finds its place at Sishu Bhawan Square – Ekamrakshetra – that is considered the gateway to the Old Town, which houses a number of heritage monuments and treasures such as Rajarani Temple, Parsurameswar Temple and Lingaraj Temple.

“The city has indeed transformed for the hockey world cup. The administration has set the standards and showed that Bhubaneswar is not an underdog anymore. The city has the capability to host such grand event and in grand manner, which no one did in the earlier world cup events,” said Debraj Jena, a resident of Kharvela Nagar.

Another gateway, the Biju Patnaik International Airport has also been decorated to welcome the visitors.

Though no artwork has been taken place at the airport area, the authorities have put up giant banners inside as well as outside.

The attempt is to showcase the city’s monuments in grandeur.

However, no attempt has been made to deck up the Baramunda bus terminal, which is also a major gateway to the city.

“We have repaired the roads and fixed other infrastructure at the bus terminal, but decorating it for the event was difficult,” said a civic body official.

A tin partition at a construction site near the railway station painted thematically. Ashwinee Pati