Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly will be shifting to a new destination in future, with New Town on the northern outskirts of Kolkata chosen as the site for the new assembly complex.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari informed the House about the plan on Saturday.
He said a new assembly building would have to be built, similar to the Lok Sabha. With delimitation and 33 per cent reservation for women, the number of legislators would increase, making it difficult to provide seating space in the current assembly.
Speaking on the last day of the six‑day extended budget session, the Chief Minister requested Speaker Rathindra Bose to arrange for an all‑party delegation to visit the proposed site at New Town.
He suggested that representatives from the Public Works Department accompany the delegation to prepare a preliminary plan.
“There are currently 294 seats in the assembly. With delimitation and 33 per cent reservation for women, it will increase to over 400. Then it will be difficult to accommodate all legislators within the current House. Hence, we have to plan now. I am saying with the State Finance Minister as a witness that there will be no problem with funds for the project,” the Chief Minister said.
He also reminded the House how accommodating even the current 294 MLAs became difficult during the COVID‑19 pandemic when distancing norms had to be maintained.
At that time, some legislators had to be seated in the visitor’s gallery.
The Chief Minister added that since the current Assembly building in central Kolkata is a heritage structure, it will be used for alternative purposes.
(IANS)
