Bhubaneswar waterlogging woes: BMC gets down to work, invites tender for drain work

Bhubaneswar: After being in the dock for waterlogging across the city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now invited a tender to repair 22 drains at a cost of Rs 17 crore in the first phase.

The repair work will be carried out in 22 drains including ones in ward no-62 of Anant Vihar Phase-II, ward no-51 of Shatabdi Nagar, and ward no-37 of Nayapalli, Behera Sahi before the next rainy season.

“Tender has been invited and in the first phase our focus will be on Nayapalli area. Besides, the BMC has planned to spend Rs 400 crore in various phases to complete the drain repair work in the city,” said Ananta Narayan Jena, Bhubaneswar Mayor.

“In one year it is difficult to complete the drain repair work. As land acquisition is needed for construction of new drains, the BMC cannot do anything on its own,” BMC Works Committee Chairman and Corporator, Amaresh Jena said.

Last year, the road in front of Iskcon Temple, Behera Sahi, Dum Duma area, Dhirikuta slum and Laxmisagar were waterlogged. Moreover, there were allegations of misappropriation of funds sanctioned by the BMC for drain repair work.