Bhubaneswar: In a significant infrastructure push in the state, the Odisha government is all set to take steps for the construction of new secretariat and Assembly buildings in Bhubaneswar.
Officials said that proposals for the construction of two administrative and legislative complexes received in-principle approval during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
As per the proposal, the new secretariat building will be similar to the Central Secretariat in New Delhi. Each department will have a dedicated chamber, lobby, and conference hall for ministers to enhance coordination and efficiency.
To be constructed in two phases, both structures will be spread across 71.13 acres in the city. In Phase I, the new secretariat-cum-Mantralaya will be built adjacent to Kharvela Bhawan and the OSEPA campus, along with a three-level underground parking facility in front of the present Lok Seva Bhawan, TNIE reported.
The 12-storey secretariat will have three basements. There will be basement parking, while another 12-storey office building will be developed between the Police Commissionerate and Nirman Soudha to accommodate relocated departments.
Similarly, the new state Assembly building will be constructed in Phase II, featuring three basements, a ground floor, and a single-storey structure, along with an annex secretariat building (3B+G+9) and a service building (B+G+1). Another 12-storey office complex will be built on the old Nirman Soudha campus.
Several government offices now located within the development zone, including the ADM office, OSEPA, research lab, directorate of geology, higher secondary education, economic offence wing, cyber complex, directorate of town planning, chief electrical inspector office, and the superintending engineer of Bhubaneswar (R&B) division-III, will be temporarily relocated. Heads of these offices have been asked to identify vacant government spaces or explore rental options until project completion.
The Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation Limited (OBCC) has been tasked with preparing the detailed project report and cost estimates. Phase I construction will begin at the earliest, and the new Assembly building will be ready once the state is permitted to establish a Vidhan Parishad.
The state government will also construct a special circuit house on a 1.9-acre site, featuring 112 single rooms, 54 suite rooms, 34 1BHK and six 2BHK units. The complex will include a gymnasium, recreation area, restaurants, a souvenir shop, and office workstations on all floors.
As part of the plan, the OMFED campus will be developed into a mega convention and hospitality hub at OMFED Square. The centre will host around 10,000 people and include three-star hotels.