Bhubaneswar: Once showcased as the flagship project of Bhubaneswar's Smart City mission, the Janpath is now showing visible signs of neglect, with damaged infrastructure, encroached pedestrian spaces, potholes and poor maintenance.

Developed at a cost of around Rs 103.45 crore, Smart Janpath was the city's first major Smart City project after Bhubaneswar was selected under the Centre's Smart Cities Mission. Stretching 5.5 km from Shishu Bhawan Square to Vani Vihar Square, it was designed to match the standards of modern urban roads in developed countries.

The project included widened roads, dedicated pedestrian walkways, a 2.4-metre cycle track, organised parking facilities, underground cabling, landscaped medians, vending kiosks, study zones and other urban amenities. It was completed in 2022 by RKD Construction, which also maintained the corridor for three years under the contract. Since January this year, the maintenance has been handled by Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL).

However, residents say the corridor has undergone a dramatic decline, with many of its key features either damaged or misused.

One of the major concerns is the increasing number of government and private advertising hoardings placed along footpaths and cycle tracks. These installations have obstructed spaces meant for pedestrians and cyclists.

In several locations, the hoardings have been installed at heights that pose a risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists. The medians have also been altered to accommodate the structures, with plants reportedly removed in some places.

Facilities created for persons with disabilities have also come under strain. Dedicated parking spaces earmarked for differently-abled users are reportedly being used for general public parking by private contractors managing the parking system.

As a result, persons with disabilities often struggle to find designated parking spaces when visiting the area.

Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) official Debashish Rout said parking management falls under the BMC's jurisdiction but assured that the issue would be brought to the civic body's notice for corrective action.

Road conditions have also deteriorated at several locations, including Master Canteen Square and Sriya Square, where large potholes have appeared despite recent resurfacing work.

In one location near Master Canteen, a pothole measuring nearly three feet deep and three feet wide had become a hazard for motorists. Instead of carrying out permanent repairs, authorities reportedly filled it with sand, raising concerns that the problem could recur.

Several paver blocks on pedestrian walkways have also been removed, making walking difficult in many stretches.

The decorative lighting installed along the corridor to enhance its appearance at night has also suffered extensive damage. Many light fixtures have either been vandalised or stolen, including those near the BMC headquarters.

Although police have arrested a person accused of stealing some of the lighting fixtures, the damaged installations have not yet been restored, leaving parts of the Smart Janpath corridor in a neglected condition.

Once regarded as a model urban infrastructure project and appreciated by visiting international delegations, Smart Janpath is now facing growing questions over its upkeep and whether the city's flagship Smart City initiative can retain its original vision without sustained maintenance and enforcement.