Speaker announces construction of a new Assembly complex on 40 acres, citing future increase in Assembly strength

Kolkata, 25 July (H.S.) : West Bengal is set to get a new Legislative Assembly building, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday formally proposing the construction of a modern Assembly complex to Speaker Rathindra Nath Bose. Accepting the proposal, the Speaker announced that the new Assembly building would come up on a 40-acre plot in New Town.

The announcement was made on the concluding day of the Budget Session of the West Bengal Assembly.

Explaining the need for a new Assembly complex, the Chief Minister said the existing Assembly building, constructed before Independence, may not be able to accommodate the increased number of legislators after the proposed delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and the implementation of women's reservation.

If delimitation takes place and women's reservation is implemented, the Assembly strength may rise from the present 294 to more than 400 members. We should begin planning now for such a future, Adhikari told the House while urging the Speaker to lead an all-party delegation to inspect the earmarked land in New Town.

He also assured that financial constraints would not become an obstacle to the project.

The Chief Minister acknowledged the historical and heritage value of the present Assembly building, which has witnessed several landmark moments in West Bengal's parliamentary history since Independence. He indicated that the government would preserve the building's legacy and consider its future use after the new Assembly complex becomes operational, similar to how the old Parliament building in New Delhi has been retained after the inauguration of the new Parliament.

Referring to his experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adhikari recalled that legislators had to be seated even in the galleries to maintain physical distancing, highlighting the limitations of the existing infrastructure.

Along with the proposal for the new Assembly building, the Chief Minister also stressed the need to modernise facilities for legislators. He called for upgrading the MLA Hostel, installing an electronic voting system in the Assembly, improving the Assembly canteen, and ensuring greater ministerial attendance during House proceedings.

The Speaker's announcement marked the first formal confirmation of the long-discussed plan to construct a new West Bengal Legislative Assembly complex in New Town.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh