Bihar govt to build accommodation for MLAs, MLCs

Patna, Jan 24 (PTI) Bihar government is mulling over aproposal to construct 4000 sq ft each duplex accommodationsfor the 243 MLAs and 75 MLCs with an estimated expense of Rs275 crore, a move which being seen as an attempt to mollifythe law-makers after scrapping Local Area Development Funds.

According to a proposal brought before Chief MinisterNitish Kumar recently, state Building and Housing departmenthas planned to construct the duplex accommodations for all theMLAs and MLCs for which consultants have been roped in.

The department proposes to have all latest facilitieswith a club, community centre, a transit hostel, communitycentre, gym, shopping complex and swimming pool for thelaw-makers, the department sources said.

The department would make a final presentation beforeChief Minister before seeking sanction for construction of theproject, they said.

Altogether 325 bungalows would be proposed to beconstructed at three adjoining places at R Block, DarogaPrasad Rai Path and Beerchand Patel Marg.

Eeach legislators'' house is expected to cost Rs 62.78lakh while two hostels would cost Rs 2.50 crore.

The officials of the building construction departmentand experts of a new delhi based private consultancy servicehad shown the details of the project to Kumar, sourcesconfirmed.

It has been proposed to raze to ground all the existinglegislators'' houses at R block, Daroga rai path and BirchandPatel path to pave the way for the new construction.

The entire stretch of MLA flats numbering from 1 to 168would be taken in the first phase, whereas in the secondphase, MLA flats situated in R Block and the Governmenthouses located behind the circuit house on Serpentine Roadwould be included.

When contacted, the Building department secretary SudhirKumar said the final decision on the location of the projectwould be taken soon, but the architectural design of theduplex housing project was ready.

Security aspects would also be taken care of during theconstruction of the new project, he said.