Bhubaneswar, 12/1 : In a landmark move to overhaul the state’s governance infrastructure, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday laid the foundation stone for a new Legislative Assembly building and a state-of-the-art Lok Seva Bhavan (Secretariat). The ambitious integrated project, estimated to cost ₹3,623 crore, is poised to replace the existing 70-year-old structures that have long struggled with space constraints and aging utility systems.
Addressing the gathering at the Lok Seva Bhavan conference hall, Chief Minister Majhi described the project as a necessity for the future, drawing parallels to the Union Government’s Central Vista redevelopment in New Delhi. “We are building not just for today, but for the next 50 to 100 years,” Majhi stated. He highlighted that the current Assembly building, with its capacity for 147 members, would soon be inadequate. “With the upcoming delimitation exercise, the number of MLAs in Odisha is likely to increase to around 200. Therefore, the new Assembly hall is being designed with a seating capacity of 300 to accommodate future expansions seamlessly.”
The new administrative complex will be developed over a sprawling 71.13 acres in the heart of the capital. According to the master plan approved by the state government, the campus will function as an integrated hub, bringing the legislative and executive wings of the government closer together. Key features of the proposed design include advanced underground parking facilities to decongest the area, modern fire safety systems, and technology-enabled workspaces designed to enhance administrative efficiency.
Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, who was also present, termed the project a “long-cherished vision” for the state. He noted that the existing Secretariat had become functionally obsolete due to the exponential increase in government departments and staff numbers over the decades. “The new Lok Seva Bhavan will be a symbol of modern Odisha—efficient, accessible, and resilient,” Harichandan said.
The foundation laying was part of a broader developmental push by the BJP-led government, with the Chief Minister inaugurating and launching projects worth a total of ₹6,701 crore on the same day. This included a ₹952 crore elevated corridor project connecting Jaydev Vihar to Nandankanan, aimed at easing traffic on one of Bhubaneswar’s busiest stretches.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the current buildings would continue to function until the new complex is fully operational. The project is expected to generate significant employment during its construction phase and, once completed, will stand as a testament to the state’s growing economic and political stature.
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