BDA extends weekend park hours; parks to remain open all day from December 13

Bhubaneswar, Dec 10: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has announced an important change in the operating hours of city parks, allowing uninterrupted access on weekends. Responding to repeated requests from morning walkers, fitness groups, and families, the BDA will keep all its parks open throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays, eliminating the usual afternoon closure. The revised schedule will take effect from December 13.

Under the new timings, BDA-managed parks will remain accessible from 5:00 AM to 8:30 PM during weekends. The initiative aims to promote outdoor recreation, support community well-being, and offer greater flexibility for citizens wishing to spend more time in green spaces.

Indira Gandhi (IG) Park will operate from 5:00 AM to 8:30 PM on all days, making it available continuously even on weekdays. Other parks will continue with their existing weekday schedule—open from 5:00 AM to 11:30 AM and again from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Updated timing boards will be installed at park entrances soon.

BDA Vice-Chairman Chanchal Rana said the decision was taken to improve the overall visitor experience. “Keeping parks open without an afternoon break on weekends will give people more opportunity to relax and enjoy. We request visitors to help maintain cleanliness and follow park guidelines,” he added.

The BDA manages 50 major parks across Bhubaneswar, including IG Park, Biju Patnaik Park, APJ Abdul Kalam Park, Madhusudan Das Park, Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Park, and Buddha Jayanti Park. Nearly 35,000 visitors frequent these parks every day.

To further enhance public amenities, BDA has also begun repainting and maintenance of play equipment across multiple parks to ensure safety and a better recreational atmosphere.