Bhanjanagar's Historic DFO Office Set for Revamp: A New Era Begins

Revitalization of Bhanjanagar's DFO Office

The Divisional Forest Officer's (DFO) office in Bhanjanagar, a century-old structure, is on the verge of a significant transformation. Built in 1922, this building has deteriorated over the years and is no longer suitable for the increasing number of staff and officers.

In response to local MLA Pradyumna Kumar Nayak's directive, DFO Himanshu Sekhar Mohanty has begun the process of constructing a new office. A proposal has been put forth to establish this new facility on the premises of the Lal Singh Permanent Nursery located along College Road.

Plans are underway for a two-storey building that will occupy 18,000 square feet. The design is currently being finalized and will be submitted to higher authorities for approval, with the project estimated to cost over Rs 5 crore.

Once the new office is completed, the DFO will relocate from the old building, marking a significant change in its official address.

This DFO office is part of Bhanjanagar's rich history, which includes various British-era infrastructures. The British made considerable contributions to the region, known as Ghumusar at the time, enhancing education, irrigation, transport, and healthcare. Key projects from that era include the Bhanjanagar Lohrakhandi bridge and the Russelkonda reservoir, all completed by 1884.

Additionally, the British established the Ghumusar North forest division in 1922 and the Mujagada forest range in 1915, focusing on forest conservation. They also built a glasshouse on Balingia hills in 1904, which has since fallen into disrepair due to the encroaching jungle.

In 1913, the Rambha Dak Bungalow was constructed, further expanding the forest infrastructure in the area.

However, other colonial buildings in Bhanjanagar, such as the sub-collector’s office and tehsil office, are also showing signs of decay and may soon require demolition and reconstruction.