The state capital will have one of the biggest housing projects executed by a govt agency and adjacent to it an urban forest — again the biggest of all in city — with the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) gearing up to unveil the two projects very soon.
The housing project is being developed at Subuddhipur on the city outskirts, which will have over 700 dwelling units, the highest ever in any BDA project while the urban forest just adjacent to it, is being developed over a whopping area of 90 acres.
Named Ekamra Residency, BDA’s housing project at Subuddhipur is being executed at a cost of Rs 199.64 crore. It is a 14-storied structure built with state-of-the-art technology and will have facilities like gym, club house, rooftop swimming pool and more, officials said.
Ekamra Residency will have 416 two BHKs and 288 three BHKs for the middle as well as the high-income groups. The BDA is also planning 300 affordable housing units adjacent to the project for the lower-income group of people.
“Ekamra Residency at Subuddhipur will have 704 dwelling units with all modern township facilities, wide access roads and a nearby affordable housing project with 300 housing units,” BDA vice-chairman Balwant Singh told .
He said the housing project will have the advantage of upcoming Ananda Bana which is the biggest park of Bhubaneswar city. “The work on development of the two projects is under way on a war footing and it will be inaugurated very soon,” Singh said. Spread over 90 acres of land, the Ananda Bana (forest of happiness) is divided into two parts and connected with a foot overbridge. Officials said this is the biggest open space in the city where people can spend their leisure time, cycle, take a walk, do yoga and other activities.
The authority has recently developed an interpretation centre at Ananda Bana where people can enlighten themselves with environmental knowledge. A café also recently got approval to open in this urban park.
The BDA, in collaboration with the forest department, came up with the design and concept plan for this urban park.
“I have visited the place recently. It is very serene, tranquil and quiet. It really gives the impression of a forest,” Kalinga Nagar resident Chinmay Patra said.