Sri Vijaya Puram, May 28: One of the city’s largest public-space upgrades under the Smart City Mission is nearing completion, with Joggers Park already opened to the public and Gandhi Park expected to become fully operational within a month, officials said.
The ₹29.45-crore Green Connect project, implemented by the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, is aimed at turning Gandhi Park, Joggers Park and adjoining green spaces into a connected recreational corridor for residents and tourists.
Probir Nag, Executive Engineer, told The Wave Andaman that work at Joggers Park has been completed and the facility has been opened for public use. At Gandhi Park, finishing work is still underway.
“Joggers Park has already been opened completely for the general public and tourists. At Gandhi Park, final touch-up work and installation of water facilities are going on. It should be fully functional within the next one month,” Nag said.
Gandhi Park has long been one of the city’s familiar public spaces. The park was developed around the erstwhile Dilthaman Tank, which was once the only source of drinking water for Port Blair and its surrounding areas, according to the South Andaman district administration’s tourism profile. Over the years, it has remained a popular gathering space for islanders, families, walkers and visitors.
Officials said the redevelopment is intended to improve access to open spaces, add recreational facilities and give two of the city’s key public parks a more organised layout. The project is also expected to strengthen the city’s public-facing infrastructure at a time when civic spaces in Sri Vijaya Puram are increasingly being used by morning walkers, families, elderly residents, children and tourists.
At Gandhi Park, the works include upgraded entrance plazas, resurfaced pathways, meditation decks, landscaped seating areas, viewing spaces, an information centre, an art gallery, food kiosk zones and outdoor fitness facilities.
The project also includes a floating jetty viewing deck, stepped seating arrangements and redevelopment of the party island area. The green amphitheatre near the Gandhi statue and beautification work around the lily pond are also in the final stage.
Electrical work, green wall installations and remaining public utility works are still being completed. Project records show that compound wall foundation and substructure work across 360 metres has been completed.
At Joggers Park, the focus has been on improving walking, fitness and seating infrastructure. The jogging track has been resurfaced with EPDM material across nearly 22,000 square feet. New viewing decks, yoga spaces, landscaped seating and stepped seating areas have also been added.
Public seating on the airport-facing side has been completed, while fountain-related work, signage and electrical facilities are in the final phase.
The Green Connect project is significant because Gandhi Park and Joggers Park are among the most visible public spaces in the city. Their redevelopment is expected to improve the experience of both residents and visitors, especially as Sri Vijaya Puram continues to serve as the main urban gateway to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Officials said better maintained public spaces are important for a city where tourism, civic life and public infrastructure are closely linked. For many visitors, the quality of roads, parks, waterfronts and public amenities often shapes the first impression of the islands before they travel to other destinations.
With Joggers Park now operational and Gandhi Park nearing completion, the Green Connect project is expected to emerge as one of the city’s main public leisure zones and one of the clearest examples of Smart City Mission work becoming visible on the ground in Sri Vijaya Puram.
