Bhubaneswar: From the first week of April, the morning air will fill with laughter and music as residents gather on a vehicle-free corridor along an identified road stretch from 5 am to 7 am to engage in community activities like walking, riding bicycles, skating, dancing, exercise, yoga and socialising, among others, officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
Usually bustling with vehicles, the streets will be reclaimed by residents, turning them into temporary zones of joy and activity and fostering a sense of belonging and well-being.
BMC additional commissioner Suvendu Sahu said although multiple agencies are involved in implementing the non-motorised transport (NMT) corridor, the work of BMC, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and city police will be the key. “Zonal deputy commissioners will be asked to oversee if the stretch is ready with police help a day before. Special barricades have been designed to block the stretch from both ends. Police will keep a watch during the two-hour street fun,” Sahu said.
BMC, which has prepared a blueprint for the effective implementation of NMT, said the activities will be organised daily to promote healthy lifestyle and sustainable urban living. “Specific NMT corridors will cater exclusively to pedestrians, cyclists and individuals participating in activities such as skating, yoga, morning walks, and zumba. The project aims to foster community engagement and enhance the well-being of residents by encouraging physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour,” a BMC officer said.
Bhubaneswar, since 2017, has been organising Patha Utsav (street festival) along Janpath during winter months on Sundays. “Although the event is also based on the NMT concept, having a stretch closed for pedestrians for two hours daily is new and proper NMT,” said senior urban planner Sanjib Guru.
“In fact, the NMT duration should be extended as mini markets may come up gradually. This will increase economic activity that will ensure livelihood for small vendors and revenue for the civic body,” Guru said, adding that the innovative approach to urban living demonstrates how cities can balance infrastructure with human-centric spaces, promoting healthier lifestyles.
Since the NMT was one of the basic priorities that people opted for in the run-up to getting the smart city tag in 2016, the concept had received top attention. A German firm initially provided technical information on how to translate NMT into reality and the modes of transport to be opted for, sources said.