Bhubaneswar: In a major push to infrastructure, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday laid the foundation stone for a new Lok Seva Bhavan, Assembly building and several other developmental projects worth Rs 6,701 crore.
The CM also laid the foundation stone for an elevated road corridor connecting Jayadev Vihar with Nandankanan in Bhubaneswar.
Officials said the new assembly building and Lok Seva Bhawan project will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,623 crore and spread over 71.13 acres of land in the state capital.
Drawing a parallel with the recently built Parliament complex under Delhi’s Central Vista project, CM Majhi said Odisha too requires a modern Legislative Assembly building designed to serve the state’s needs for at least the next 50-100 years.
The Chief Minister said the proposed assembly building will feature a modern meeting hall with a seating capacity of 300 members. “Now, we have 147 MLAs, which could increase after delimitation. I am not sure, but after delimitation, the number of members could be 200. Therefore, we have to construct a new assembly building keeping in view for the next 50/100 years,” he said.
The new assembly and Lok Seva Bhavan premises will have underground parking facilities, ensuring better space management and convenience.
Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said the entire campus, officially named ‘Lok Seva Bhawan and Mantralaya building’, is envisioned as a state-of-the-art hub for governance and public service delivery. He said a master plan for this ambitious project has already been approved.
The Chief Minister also said that the state required a new Lok Seva Bhawan as the present building is 70 years old, where office space failed to meet the present-day requirements.
There is a need for a modern Lok Seva Bhavan due to expanded departments and staff numbers outgrowing the existing infrastructure, aligning with June 2025 government announcements for integrated new buildings.
This apart, the CM also laid the foundation stone for a dedicated elevated corridor from Jaydev Vihar to Nandankanan in Bhubaneswar, costing Rs 952 crore.
This project will include flyovers at key junctions such as Jaydev Vihar, Kalinga Hospital Square, Damana Square, and KIIT Square. This included a planned 4-lane cable-stayed bridge at Jaydev Vihar Square.
To ease traffic flow, there will be well-designed flyovers with integrated traffic management solutions. The project has been conceived on modern metropolitan lines, ensuring smooth vehicular movement on the elevated road along with improved junction management at ground level. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been completed and the project has already received formal approval.
Harichandan said to promote environmental sustainability, 22,410 trees will be planted along both sides of the corridor.
