Bhubaneswar, Jan 12 (NationPress) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday inaugurated the foundation for three transformative projects — a new Secretariat called ‘Lokseva Bhawan’, a modern Odisha Legislative Assembly, and an elevated roadway from Nandankanan to Jayadev Vihar. This event took place in Bhubaneswar as part of the National Road Safety Month.

Referring to the newly-built Parliament structure under Delhi’s Central Vista project, the Chief Minister emphasized the necessity for a contemporary Legislative Assembly in Odisha that can accommodate the state’s needs for the next 50 years.

CM Majhi noted that after the forthcoming delimitation process, the Assembly, which presently has 147 seats, may see an augmentation of about 50 additional seats.

He added that the new Assembly will feature an increased seating capacity, allowing for an expansion of MLAs from the current count to approximately 200, with future scalability planned for up to 300 seats over the next 50 years.

The project will be integrated into a comprehensive campus, while the existing Assembly will continue its operations until the new facility is finalized.

The Chief Minister also announced the construction of a new Secretariat building, ‘Lokseva Bhawan’, as the current building has aged and no longer meets modern administrative requirements.

He pointed out that obsolete electrical systems, water pipelines, and other infrastructure pose significant safety risks, including fire hazards.

The new Lokseva Bhawan will be a state-of-the-art, technology-driven administrative complex designed for future needs while prioritizing safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

“Today, our government laid the foundation for both the new Legislative Assembly and the Lok Seva Bhawan, situated on a 71.13-acre campus, with an investment of ₹3,623 crore allocated. These buildings will be equipped with all the latest features,” CM Majhi stated.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation for a new elevated corridor from Jayadev Vihar to Nandankanan, estimated to cost ₹952 crore.

Emphasizing Bhubaneswar’s increasing traffic challenges, the Chief Minister remarked that the Nandankanan–Jayadev Vihar route is one of the city’s most congested areas.

To mitigate this issue, the government has planned a meticulously designed elevated roadway (flyover) integrated with traffic management solutions.

He mentioned that the project has been conceptualized along contemporary metropolitan lines, ensuring smooth traffic flow on the flyover and improved junction management below.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been completed, and the project has received the necessary approvals,” he added.