Bhubaneswar, June 8: The iconic Nicco Park in Bhubaneswar is all set to transform into a world-class tourism destination as the Odisha government has drawn up an ambitious Rs 200 crore redevelopment plan.
Sources said that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has also reviewed the redevelopment proposal.
As per reports, the state government plans to revamp Nicco Park with modern facilities. The upgraded park will have entertainment areas, an Ayurvedic garden, better lighting, cycling tracks, and food courts. The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has been given the task of overseeing the entire redevelopment.
Sources said that efforts are being made to end the current partnership between the public and private sectors, and give full control of the park to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) before the project starts.
The BDA is now working on figuring out the shareholdings of all involved parties to decide on compensation and ownership details.
It is worth mentioning that Nicco Park was developed in 1996 through a partnership between the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), which held 49%, and the Nicco Group, which owned 51%. The construction started in 1997 on a 24-acre land near the state secretariat.
However, the park was badly damaged during the 1999 super cyclone. While the Nicco Group took loans from IPICOL to repair it, the park never fully bounced back and continued to lose money. Over time, neglect led to poor maintenance, and less visitor’s footfall.
Later in 2007, the BDA handed over the park's operations to a private company, Sun Tech City Private Limited. The park was renamed BDA City Centre, but problems continued. Pollution from Drain No. 10, illegal encroachments, and dirty water in the boating pond made the place unattractive. Many of the amusement rides stopped working because of poor maintenance. Cyclone Fani in 2019 caused even more damage, leaving the park unused and in bad condition.
A senior BDA official said that all private companies will be removed before the revamp. They are checking the documents to figure out each company's share, and talks are happening, especially with the Nicco Group, which will be the first to leave.
