Saheed Nagar is where Bhubaneswar breathes its stories of sacrifice, celebration, and everyday life
Bhaskar Parichha
Saheed Nagar, also known as Sahid Nagar, is a prominent neighbourhood and commercial hub in Bhubaneswar.
Named after those who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence, the area was originally intended as an upscale residential zone. It has now evolved into a bustling high-street commercial area along Janpath. Saheed Nagar stands out as one of the most well-developed and affluent localities in Bhubaneswar. It represents the 10th unit of the city, following the nine units that were originally planned when the new Bhubaneswar Town was established in 1950.
The design and planning of Saheed Nagar were carried out by the General Administration Department of the Government of Odisha around 1960, with most of the plots being privately owned.
Saheed Nagar begins right after Satya Nagar and extends up to National Highway 5, specifically at Vani Vihar Chhak. Covering an area of no less than a square kilometer, it features a local railway station – Vani Vihar Railway Station. It is adjacent to the Rasulgarh and Mancheswar Industrial Areas.
The expansive Utkal University Campus is the next significant area close to Saheed Nagar. It is strategically situated between the East Coast Railway Line to the East, Janpath to the West, the National Highway to the North, and Satya Nagar to the South.
Saheed Nagar once had a Market Building complex that included apartments for locals and shops. Plus, there was a traditional vegetable market that got turned into a shopping complex – the Bhavani Mall.
Bhavani Mall is now a five-story shopping center and is partly owned by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Mall opened its doors in 2012. Now, it’s a go-to spot for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Bhavani Mall has become the new landmark of Saheed Nagar – thanks to the Cine Multiplex.
In addition to the Saheed Nagar market building, there is another market complex called Surya Kiran Market Complex. Saheed Nagar has some other renowned establishments – hotel Triumph Residency and a respectable office complex – Alok Bharti Tower.
Saheed Nagar is home to a number of parks, each around one acre in size. The plots on the right side of Maharahi College Marg used to be the submerged canal/catchment areas of the canal that separates Saheed Nagar from Satya Nagar. The large Shanti Palli slum areas of Saheed Nagar are located in these regions as well.
Saheed Nagar is largely known for its festivities.The Saheed Nagar Durga Puja Committee started the traditional Ravan Podi in the 1980s, marking it as a one-of-a-kind celebration in Odisha, especially as an urban event.The committee’s venue is huge, attracting thousands of people from Bhubaneswar to join in the Dussera festivities.
Besides Maharshi College, the Saheed Nagar area is also home to the first Ramadevi Women’s University of Odisha, University Law College, and several important offices like Income Tax, Value Added Tax (VAT), Goods and Services Tax (GST), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhubaneswar, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL), Provident Fund (PF) and the Election Commission. The prestigious Varma & Varma Law Office, which handles cases for the Central Government as Senior Counsel and serves as the Special Public Prosecutor for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is also located here. Sparsh Hospital is located in Saheed Nagar and also has the Aadhar Centre of the city.
Saheed Nagar has become a hotspot for fast food joints near Ramadevi Women’s University, particularly known for rolls, chats, golgappas, dahibara aludam, and Lingaraj lassi.It is home to the sweet shop of Salepur Bikalananda Kar.The famous Mukharuchi namkeen outlet has its original spot here along with traditional Odia food restaurants which have come up lately.
The area is home to dedicated outlets for Computer Hardware and other related services in the Meghdoot Hotel lane.
Saheed Nagar continues to be the upscale part of the capital city, even though other neighborhoods have come up an ultra-modern look and usage.
(The author is a senior journalist and columnist. Views expressed are personal.)
