Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 17:

Amid Centre's initiative to develop infrastructure for the Divyangs (persons with disabilities), Odisha government has decided to provide land in 21 locations in the state capital at investment of Rs 6,7,13,000.

The funds will be sanctioned soon to Public Works department's division 1,2,3 and 4 in Bhubaneswar. The department has been asked to prepare a blueprint about the building architect and facilities for the physically challenged persons as per the guidelines of Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.

The infrastructure will be developed for the Divyangs ensuring smooth transport facility at work places. The decision came following the directive by Supreme Court on improving the transport facility for the persons with disabilities at all the government offices.

The directive has been issued to the Housing & Urban Development department of Odisha to implement the order in Bhubaneswar by July 2018 and remaining 10 major cities of the State by 2019.

The project will start in 21 locations of Bhubaneswar in first phase. While Rs 15.50 lakh will be spent for Biju Patnaik park, Rs 15.60 lakh will be spent for Indira Park, Rs 24.23 lakh for Jayadev Bhawan, Rs 15.73 lakh for I&PR office, Rs 14.75 lakh for Chief Minister's Grievance Redrassal Cell, Rs 12.70 lakh for Chief Election Officer office, Rs 4,87,500 for Social Welfare Board. The infrastructure will be developed in RTO-2, Rabindra Mandap, State Library, BJP Autonomous College, State Museum, Odisha Legislative Assembly, Odisha Secretariat, Office of Commissionerate Police, State Election Commission (SEC), Capital Hospital, Rajdhani College and Rajiv Bhawan.

"We have decided to have facility for the persons with disabilities in all the offices in Bhubaneswar. This has been executed in entrance and exit doors of some buildings. As per the upcoming rules by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the facility will be provided for the Divyangs in all the government offices, private buildings and apartments", said a senior BDA official.