Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Sept 9: The Odisha government has declared Odisha Bhawan in New Delhi as “structurally unsafe” for habitation and has authorized the Works Department to dismantle the building. This decision follows a directive from the Chief Architect of the Department of Architecture & Environs, New Delhi Municipal Council, dated June 29, 2020, which mandated a Structural Safety Audit for all government buildings in Delhi to ensure seismic compliance.
The Works Department completed the audit of three Odisha government buildings in New Delhi—Odisha Bhawan, Odisha Niwas, and Odisha Sadan. On April 19, 2022, the OSD Chief Engineer, Odisha, reported that Odisha Bhawan was deemed unsafe for long-term use and recommended its demolition within 2-3 years.
On August 28, 2024, the Chief Engineer-cum-Additional Secretary of the Works Department confirmed that the building was beyond economical repair and unsafe for habitation. Consequently, the state government has declared Odisha Bhawan structurally unsafe and has authorized its dismantlement by the Works Department.
