Bhubaneswar: With thousands of devotees expected to visit Old Town during Panchuka and Kartik Purnima celebrations, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday launched a special mass cleaning drive along Mausi Maa Temple Road and around the Lingaraj Temple area.The BMC officials said the drive was carried out at Mausima Chowk on Vivekananda Marg under Ward 55 in the presence of mayor Sulochana Das; standing committee chairpersons; deputy, zonal and assistant commissioners; and sanitation officials. Community members, residents’ welfare associations and students also actively participated in the initiative.As part of the exercise, the BMC removed unauthorised roadside encroachments and stalls that were obstructing public spaces and pedestrian movement. Tree branches along key stretches were trimmed to improve road visibility and facilitate smooth vehicular traffic.Deputy commissioner (sanitation) Rakesh Patro said the civic body has intensified its preparations in one of the city’s busiest religious zones.“Large numbers of devotees visit the Old Town area during Panchuka and Kartik Purnima. Additional sanitation measures have also been planned to handle the increased volume of puja waste during the festival period,” Patro said.The event also marked Children’s Day with an interactive awareness programme for students. Through games and the popular “Plastic Danav” activity, children were educated about four-way waste segregation, proper use of dustbins and the importance of keeping their surroundings clean.Using flashcards, slogans and fun learning tools, the BMC officials encouraged students to adopt responsible waste disposal practices and become ambassadors of cleanliness in their communities.