BATHINDA, Aug. 31 -- More than two-and-a-half years after the Bathinda municipal corporation proposed a first-of-its-kind botanical garden in the state, the ambitious project has made little progress.

Officials said a lack of space delayed construction, and the urban local body now expects work to begin soon.

MC authorities planned to develop the park in December 2023, when a panel of experts earmarked space for native and exotic flora.

The process to invite bids was initiated in January 2024, and the project was proposed to be completed within a year, but work failed to take off.

Bathinda MC superintendent engineer Sandeep Romana said the space earmarked for the project near Rose Garden was occupied by the sewage board, and their rel...