Various government agencies have joined hands to deck up the city for hosting the Men’s Hockey World Cup in a grand manner.

To give a major infrastructure boost to the city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Public Works Department (PWD) have joined hands to make the city roads better, add to existing infrastructure, mark paths for cyclists and pedestrians and plant trees on the medians. Artists have also been engaged to add colourful creativity to the city walls.

To facilitate movement of fans, the PWD has constructed two foot overbridges near Kalinga Stadium within a record time. The facilities will lessen traffic congestion on Bidyut Marg.

Similarly, major repair of roads, including fresh marking of roads, zebra lines and painting of medians, have also been done. The officials have also installed signage on major roads and city intersections.

Graffiti on a wall near Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

The BMC has taken up fresh painting drive on walls along a combine stretch of 40km. The artworks include official mascot Olly, wildlife and hockey. The civic body has also completed installation of automatic and semi-automatic modular toilets at various strategic locations, including Janpath, Rajpath and Bidyut Marg. To ensure cleanliness, the civic authorities have also started installing semi-underground and underground waste bins.

The civic body has also managed to introduce the long awaited mechanical sweeping machines ahead of the world cup. Two of these machines are cleaning arterial roads such as the Janpath and Bidyut Marg during night hours.

The BDA has taken up the job to increase the city’s green cover.

The development authority has for the first time installed hanging planters on electric poles as well as planter’s box. They have also taken up plantation on the medians. They have also illuminated three flyovers along the national highway and 17 major temples in the Old Town. The BDA has partnered with other agencies to open the city’s first open air museum, resume the music in park programme and also the much awaited .FEST event where popular singers and artistes will perform between November 30 and December 16.