India, Jan. 12 -- Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new assembly building and Lok Seva Bhavan.

The chief minister said the proposed assembly building would have a modern meeting hall with a seating capacity of 300 members. "Today, we have 147 MLAs, which could increase after delimitation. I am not sure, but after delimitation, the number of members could be 200. Therefore, we have to construct a new assembly building keeping in view for the next 50/100 years," Majhi said at the event.

Odisha is also planning a 49-member state legislative council.

The mammoth project, estimated to cost Rs.3,623 crore, will unfold across 71 acres in two phases, and is inspired by Delhi'...