Bhubaneswar: Aimed at developing park library culture where anyone can pick a book and read amidst the abundance of nature, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) on Sunday opened a public library at Biju Patnaik Park.
March 21, also celebrated as World Poetry Day, was a perfect day to dedicate a library to the avid book readers.
A first-of-its-kind initiative in Odisha, Forest Park Library was inaugurated by R Balakrishnan, retired IAS and Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in the presence of BDA Vice-Chairman, Prem Chandra Chaudhary.
The Forest Park Library is a collaboration between BDA and city-based Bakul Foundation. While BDA provided space and physical infrastructure, Bakul developed it into a creative library space and will also be managing it.
Chaudhary said BDA is planning to set up more such libraries in other big size parks in the city to promote park library culture.
Since the library is located within the park, it opens and closes according to the park’s timings. It is open from 7 am to 10 am and from 4 pm to 7 pm. The library is open throughout week except Monday.
Founder-Secretary of Bakul Foundation Sujit Mahapatra, said currently around 2,000 books are available and more will be added soon.
Among others, BDA secretary Harish Chandra Nayak, Chief- Engineer-cum-Engineer Member, BDA, Rajendra Kumar Nayak and Chief Horticulturist, BDA Ashok N. Dhar were present.
