New assembly, council needed to house more MLAs after delimitation: Council chairman Ram Shinde

Nagpur: Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman Ram Shinde on Monday said the new Assembly and Council halls, along with central hall and multi-storied administrative building will prepare for the expected increase in number of legislators following the 2029 delimitation, and address space constraints at the British-era complex.
Shinde, who inspected the Vidhan Bhavan premises, govt press, MLA hostel, and the 160-room Civil Lines housing block, was accompanied by legislature secretary Jitendra Bhole, deputy secretary Vilas Athawale, special officer Ruturaj Kudtarkar, and senior officials from the public works department (PWD) including chief engineer Dinesh Nandanwar and superintendent engineer Janardan Bhanuse.
In November 2023, Speaker Rahul Narwekar, in an exclusive interview with TOI, revealed that the Legislature Secretariat had directed Nagpur district administration to acquire the required two-acre govt press land behind existing Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur. Narwekar attended Monday's proceedings via video conferencing.
Speaking to the media, Shinde emphasised the need for modern, environmentally sustainable infrastructure aligned with future legislative requirements. "We plan to build new assembly and council halls modelled on the new Parliament building in Delhi. A central hall and an administrative tower will also come up on the same plot. The chief minister has shared key suggestions, and final decisions will be taken in consultation with legislature office-bearers and the govt," Shinde said.
Additionally, he suggested that administrative control of both, MLA hostel and Vidhan Bhavan premises, should shift from the PWD to the legislature secretariat to ensure better coordination and execution.
To address the annual accommodation crunch during the winter session, Shinde proposed redevelopment of the ageing 160-room block of MLA hostel at Civil Lines, with the potential inclusion of adjacent land from the forest department. All new buildings, he added, would be vastu compliant.
Shinde also called for year-round maintenance for the Vidhan Bhavan complex and recommended setting up modern, tech-enabled office spaces for ministers and state ministers during the session.