Bhubaneswar Bar Association near Kalpana Square. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, May 23: Space will no longer be a constraint at the Khurda district and sessions court here as a brand new judicial complex with all kinds of modern facilities is on the anvil.

All the courts and revenue offices on the city court premises will function from this new complex.

An office-bearer of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association said the design and planning of the complex that would have two seven-storey towers was complete.

“The high court has given its approval. We are waiting for the financial sanctions from the state government, which are likely to be done this year and work on the complex will begin this year too. The estimated budget for the complex is Rs 40 crore,” said Chitta Ranjan Barisal, secretary of the bar association.

Justice Laxmikant Mohaptra had said the process to start construction of the complex was on and once the cabinet gave its nod to financial sanctions for the project, work would start immediately.

“Both revenue offices and judicial courts will be on the complex, which will have twin towers with separate entrance gates and parking spots,” Justice Mohapatra said.

Around 30 courts function from the present Bhubaneswar court premises. Revenue offices, too, are housed there. However, improper design and rampant encroachment have been creating problems there. Lawyers, litigants and revenue officials park their vehicles wherever there is open space and this creates a mess. More than 3,000 people come to the court and the revenue offices every day.

The court building and revenue office building, as they stand now, cannot be extended horizontally or vertically as the plinth area is limited to two storeys. The court and the revenue office function from two separate buildings on the Bhubaneswar court premises, which stand on a seven-acre plot.

“Of the seven acres, around four are used for parking and are encroached upon by temporary vendors, while the court and revenue offices stand on the rest. The proposal is to build the complex on this unused land. The complex will have two towers with separate gates. Those coming to the revenue offices will access one building and the judicial work will function from the other tower,” said Gyanranjan Mohanty, secretary of the All Odisha Lawyers’ Association.

“Around 40 per cent of the judicial work depends on the revenue offices. Similarly, around 80 per cent of the revenue work depends on the judiciary. Naturally, these two offices should be located close to each other. Besides, several tribunals that have been functioning from various places in the city will come under one roof,” said Barisal.