Construct new legislature complex to avoid inconvenience to people

Srinagar, Aug 10 (UNI) Concerned over the inconvenience faced by the general public when the legislature is in session, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad directed the Project Construction Corporation (PCC) to complete the construction of the new complex so that next session could be held there.

He has directed PCC to immediately restart construction on the legislature complex here and make it functional by May next to facilitate holding of the state legislature's next session in Srinagar in the new complex.

Life in the entire city is affected during the session as all roads leading to present Legislative complex are being closed for all vehicles and pedestrains. Even school children, the elderly persons and woman, had to take longer alternative route to reach Budshah Chowk, which otherwise is just five minutes walk from the Jehangir Chowk.

Coming up on sprawling 37 kanals of land opposite Civil Secretariat and at a revised estimated cost of Rs 32.50 crores, the project had been started in 1982 but subsequently left midway.

Mr Azad evinced interest in the completion of the project and held several meetings with officers concerned to resume the construction particularly in view of the inconvenience faced by general public when the legislature is in session in the present complex situated on the left bank of the River Jhelum here.

The Chief Minister visited the site of the new complex this morning to take stock of early resumption and completion of work.

He was accompanied by senior officers of JKPCC, the project executing agency.

The new legislature complex will have Assembly and Council halls, central hall, chambers of the two presiding officers, offices of Chief Minister and leader of the opposition, lobbies, Assembly and Council secretariats, press, visitors and officers' galleries, library and canteen facilities. The built up area of the three storey complex is 1,00,000 sq ft.

He told them to execute the work in three shifts by engaging dedicated supervisory staff and sufficient work force to complete the project within the time frame.

The Chief Minister said that work would restart on August 20 when the legislature resumes its sitting after a month long break.

He inspected the site plan and said that the complex would come up as a landmark site in the summer capital of the state.

UNI