Sambalpur: The construction of administrative building of the municipal corporation and the development authority has started here.

The building will be a replica of the Hirakud dam. Calcutta's Architect Consultant Company has designed the building plan. One Priyadarshi Panigrahi, working in a multinational company in Dubai, has made the initial design concept on the Hirakud dam. He presented the idea to the district administration.

"Why not our building should look like the famous Hirakud dam when we have included towns such as Burla and Hirakud situated on the foothills of the dam in the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation. It will attract tourists," said Priyadarshi.

District collector Balwant Singh approved the idea and suggested the company to visit the dam and prepare the design. The company has prepared the design and handed it over to the district administration. On specific occasions, water will flow from the top of the building such as the Hirakud dam with beautiful lighting system enhancing the beauty of the atmosphere.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the project during his last visit to Sambalpur. The multi-storey building is coming up on the Mahanadi river bank near the national highway on four acres.

The total project cost is estimated to be Rs 20 crore, said corporation commissioner Bimalendu Rai.

"In the first phase, tender for the building has been floated for Rs 14 crore. After completion of the building, tender for the boundary walls, drain, garden, parking slot will be floated," he said.

The civic body is functioning from its 100-year-old building, which is not able to cater to the increasing need of the officials. On the other hand, the Sambalpur Development Authority is temporarily functioning from a building originally constructed for the residence of the authority's secretary.