Bhubaneswar, April 13: Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy, along with Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, inaugurated a photo exhibition on the occasion of Bhubaneswar’s 78th Capital Foundation Day on Monday. The event marks the historic day in 1948 when India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, laid the foundation stone for Bhubaneswar, officially making it the new capital of Odisha, replacing Cuttack.
Speaking at the inauguration, Speaker Surama Padhy highlighted the state government’s commitment to making Bhubaneswar a safe and conducive environment for students, as many from across the state and beyond come to the city for education. She said, “As we celebrate the 78th Foundation Day of our capital, we are also looking towards furthering its development as a green city while ensuring it remains a safe place for students pursuing their studies here.”
Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das also extended her warm greetings to the city’s residents, urging them to reflect on the city's progress and future. She called on citizens to collectively strive towards making Bhubaneswar a climate-resilient and sustainable city. "This is a day for celebration, but also a day to set new resolutions for a better future," said Mayor Das. "Bhubaneswar, once known as the Temple City, is now an emerging hub for education, sports, and healthcare.”
The Mayor also noted the significant progress the city has made, citing Bhubaneswar’s remarkable leap from 134th to 9th place in the national cleanliness index. "We are committed to pushing even further, to secure a spot in the top three rankings in the near future," she added.
The foundation of Bhubaneswar as the state capital was officially laid on April 13, 1949, following a unanimous resolution passed by the Odisha Legislative Assembly on September 30, 1946. To help plan the city, the government enlisted the expertise of Otto Koenigsberger, a German urban planner who had fled Nazi Germany, to design the new capital.
