West Bengal: New Assembly building to be built soon, announces CM Suvendu Adhikari at state budget session
Kolkata, July 26
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that a new Assembly building will soon be constructed in the state. The Chief Minister made the announcement during his vote of thanks address at the state budget session on Sunday.
Highlighting the need for a new Assembly complex, the Chief Minister stated that following the implementation of the Delimitation Bill and the Women's Reservation Bill, the strength of legislators is expected to rise to approximately 400. Hence, CM Suvendu Adhikari asserted that it would be difficult to accommodate the increased number of legislators in the current Assembly hall.
Addressing the Speaker, the Chief Minister requested him to inspect potential sites in consultation with all political parties, urging that a comprehensive plan be prepared from now itself in coordination with the Public Works Department (PWD) and other relevant departments.
He further assured that he had discussed the matter with the Finance Minister and there would be no financial constraints for the project.
Regarding the present Assembly building, the Chief Minister emphasised that it is a heritage structure and will continue to be utilised as per requirement.
In addition, the Chief Minister proposed creating a new website to track and provide information on legislators' attendance and performance in the House. He also appreciated ISF MLA Noushad Siddiki for his presence and performance during the current session of the Assembly.
Touching upon infrastructure challenges, the Chief Minister noted that the existing MLAs' hostel lacks sufficient space for legislators, announcing that plans are underway to upgrade hostel facilities as well.
Meanwhile, Speaker Rathindra Bose stated that a 40-acre land plot has been identified in the New Town area, which could be finalised for the construction of the new Assembly building.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While a new building is needed, I hope the state government doesn't divert funds from essential services like healthcare and education. Bengal has many infrastructure gaps. Let's see the detailed plan first. As they say, 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating.'
Finally, some forward-thinking! The Women's Reservation Bill will mean more MLAs, and we need space. Also, upgrading the MLA hostel is long overdue—I've heard about the poor conditions from relatives working in Kolkata. Hope the 40-acre plot in New Town gets finalised soon. 🏛️
All well and good, but will this new building really be ready before the next elections? 😅 Big announcements are common, but execution matters. Also, why didn't they plan this earlier when the Delimitation Bill was first discussed? Seems like last-minute politics.
I appreciate the focus on transparency with the new website tracking MLAs' attendance and performance. That’s a step in the right direction for accountability! But let's ensure the same applies to all political parties equally. No bias, please. 🙏
A new Assembly building is welcome news, but I'm concerned about the ecological impact. New Town already has enough concrete jungles. Why not renovate an existing government building instead? Also, the cost—hope it doesn't become another Taj Corridor-like controversy. Just saying.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.