Sambalpur, May 24: A new office complex of the municipal corporation will be constructed near the office of the district collector.
The office of the public works department (PWD), which is located in the designated plot, will soon be shifted, which will subsequently pave way for the construction of the new Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) building. Sources said that the PWD had already agreed to shift its base.
Deputy commissioner of the civic body Sudhansu Bhoi said: "The government has already approved the proposal for construction. The design for the corporation building is being prepared and will be finalised shortly. The housing and urban development department has sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the construction in the first phase. The fund has already been handed over to the civic body."
The proposed new office of the SMC will be a three-storey building with 4 halls and office chambers. It will also have rooms for assistants working in the municipal corporation. There will also be proper arrangement for parking vehicles in the basement. At present, the Sambalpur civic body operates from the old municipal building.
Ever since the Sambalpur Municipality became a municipal corporation and the notified area councils of Burla, Hirakud and villages under 12 gram panchayats were added to it, there civic body has been facing a severe space crunch while operating from its old office.
Constituted in 1867, Sambalpur Municipality was one of the oldest civic bodies of the state. However, its present building was constructed in 1927. The civic body was accorded a corporation status in 2014 and now its area spreads over 318.56sqkm. According to the 2011 census, some 3.35 lakh people were living within the civic body's limits.
"The collectorate, offices of the revenue divisional commissioner (north), DIG (north), SP, Sambalpur Sadar sub-collector, courts and the BSNL are located near the site that has been identified for the new office building of the civic body. This is the most ideal place for the civic body to function from," said Ardhendu Panda, a local resident.
