Vidhan Bhavan Expansion not to affect Winter Session in city

 

 

The expansion of Vidhan Bhavan will not affect the winter session of the State Legislature conducted in Nagpur. Despite huge construction work, the current arrangement will stay where the session affairs can be held. No present structure which has heritage value will be demolished. No road will be closed for traffic permanently except the lane behind Vidhan Bhavan that goes to the Reserve Bank of India. Now the plan for the expansion of Vidhanbhavan is ready; the procedure, like floating tenders, etc., will be held. As per the primary estimation, the construction work may start after December this year.

 

After the issuance of a No Objection Certificate from the Industries Department for transferring the land measuring 9,670 square metres at the Government Printing Press (behind Gowari Memorial) in Civil Lines, the decks were cleared for the expansion of Vidhan Bhavan. An official told ‘The Hitavada’, “Since the old structure will not be disturbed, the winter session will be held as it is. The present assembly and council halls will not be touched so the session business can be run. The present Assembly hall will be converted into the Maharashtra State Legislative Council once the new 7-storey building comes into existence.

 

The party offices will be demolished and shifted to the Government Press land. Since no present construction will be touched, the session will be conducted till the expansion work is completed.” A new seven-storey complex will be constructed on the current premises of the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur. Care will be taken to preserve the historical architec tural style of the existing building during the expansion. The new building will house offices for the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, Assembly Speaker, Council Chairman, and Leaders of the Opposition—all under one roof. It is also being contemplated to have the Central Hall, Assembly Hall, and Legislative Council Hall in this seven-storey complex. Additionally, a separate six-storey building will be constructed nearby for cabinet members. The complex will also include facilities such as parking, a cafeteria, visitor lounges, and security units. Moreover, land currently occupied by the Government Printing Press has been allocated to the legislature.

 

On this land, a grand 14-storey building covering approximately 4 lakh sq. ft. will be built for ministerial administrative offices. The Vidhan Bhavan premises and the proposed administrative building will either be connected by an underground tunnel or by a skywalk. During the winter session in Nagpur in December 2024, the issue was discussed, and the land was almost finalised. Earlier Government had planned to utilise the building of Poonam Towers, but the dispute could not be resolved. The Industries Department owns 4 acres of land for Government Printing Press.

 

It was acquired for the expansion. Some leaders had raised the issue that equal land should be given to the department. Considering that issue Government has decided to transfer the land owned by Food and Civil Supplies Department behind the Central Museum to the Industries Department. It was rumoured that the expansion included the acquisition of land where the Fishermen Society runs its office. But officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) unit of Public Works Department (PWD) made it clear that the land will not be part of the expansion plan. The triangular piece of land behind Vidhan Bhavan and in front of the BSNL office is included in the expansion plan, because of which the lane will be closed permanently for commuters.

 

The expansion is planned considering the needs for the next 50 years. The expansion will be executed by the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC). This plan is a brainchild of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He had brought it during his first tenure as Chief Minister. It was he who had performed the bhoomipujan of the expansion of the Vidhan Bhavan building in its premises, which came into existence later on.