Bhubaneswar, April 10: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik went on an inauguration and foundation stone laying spree ahead of the civic polls today.

The civic polls are likely to be held in September.

Naveen inaugurated four welfare projects in the Ekamra constituency area of the city. He also laid the foundation stones for an equal number of welfare projects in the same area.

Dhauli crafts bazaar was inaugurated near the international peace pagoda. The bazaar has 27 kiosks of which 20 have been allotted to artisans of nearby areas to display crafts such as bell metal works, appliqué, stone carving, palm leaf, pattachitra and modern paintings.

Tourist officer, Bhubaneswar, Sasanka Rath, who is also secretary of the Dhauli Development Committee, said three kiosks would be turned into a cafeteria and four would be used for tourist information centre, ATM, first-aid and public assistance booths.

A 40-ft sleeping Buddha will come up near the sculpture park and another large statue at the centre of a pond near a proposed parking lot at the foothills of Dhauli. Decorative lights surrounding the hill will be lit this evening.

The tourism department has invested Rs 1.2 crore in the crafts bazaar.

The chief minister laid the foundation stone of a police station building near Dhauli to be built for Rs 63 lakh. He then inaugurated the extended building of Khatuapada Upper Primary School near Dhauli, built for Rs 10.5 lakh.

Naveen also inaugurated a pipe water supply project to Mahavir Nagar, Gada Mahavir Nagar and adjoining areas near Sisupalgarh, developed at a cost of Rs 62.5 lakh.

“Today, the chief minister inaugurated another small pipe water supply project for Jharana Sahi in ward No. 47, built for Rs 12.5 lakh,’’ said Ekamra MLA Ashok Kumar Panda.

The chief minister also laid the foundation stone for the underground cabling of electrical supply lines on Ratha Road (Lingaraj Temple Square to Mausima Square) and another for the strengthening of the left embankment of the Daya river from Sabdeipur to Khatuapada (nearly 6km), which will be developed at a cost of Rs 6.15 crore.

Another foundation stone was laid for a bridge over Gangua to connect Sisupalgarh with the rest of the city. The bridge will cost the state government Rs 1.5 crore.