Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) to take up infrastructure work in Greater Berhampur on a war footing

Commuters in greater Berhampur that includes Chatrapur, Gopalpur and villages between them would have city bus service by August. It was stated by Ganjam district Collector Krishen Kumar, who has taken charge as vice-chairman of the Berhampur Development Authority (BDA). Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday, Mr Kumar said city bus service was one of the six major projects that the BDA had decided to start in 2013. Total cost of these projects would be around Rs 100 crore. The city bus service for greater Berhampur would be operated through Private Public Participation (PPP) mode on the lines of similar service inBhubaneswar and Puri. The State government has agreed to provide 28 buses for the city bus service of the BDA. Apart from easing transportation in the city, city bus service would help flow of tourists to Gopalpur beach resort and travel of common mass to district headquarters town, Chatrapur.

The other major proposed project of the BDA was establishment of a new bus stand on the outskirts of the city at Haldiapadar. This new bus stand would be established on a five acres of land. Consultants were appointed for establishment of modern bus stands at Gopalpur and Chatrapur.

Rock garden

To provide recreational facility and zones to the public the BDA has come up with two projects. One of them is establishment of a rock garden in Ambapua area. Two acres of land has been identified for the purpose. Bedabandha, a large water body of the city, would be developed into a water-based recreation centre by the BDA. The Bedabandha project would cost Rs 8-10 crore. “After clearance from State government, tender for the Bedabandha project was expected to be floated in March”, Mr Kumar said. He said the much-awaited Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for greater Berhampur would be ready this year.

According to him the BDA itself would be revamped. At present the BDA was short-staffed and it did not even have an enforcement officer and secretary. “We have discussed with government to fill key vacancies in the BDA as early as possible,” he said. The vice-chairman of the BDA said in the next four to five months building regulation would be strictly implemented in the city. Lack of enforcement officer in the BDA was a major hindrance to implementation of regulation. There were several multi-storeyed buildings in the city which had used up their parking space fro commercial purpose. Thirty such cases had been identified and 17 had been issued notices.

Source: The Hindu