Hostel revamp: Maha legislators to get bigger rooms near Mantralya in Mumbai

Currently, legislators are put up at four various places, with allotment of two rooms measuring about 300 sqft each

With the state planning to redevelop the MLA hostel at Nariman Point, Manora, legislators may now get two rooms, with a total area of 1,000 sqft, next to Mantralaya. One room will be reserved personal assistants of the legislators and workers from their constituencies visiting Mumbai.

The government plans to house 367 legislators from both the houses at four sprawling towers to be built on the 12,000-sqm plot. (HT)

The National Building Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC), a public sector undertaking of the Centre, will redevelop the 20-year-old structure housing incumbent legislators at a cost of Rs700 crore. The government plans to house 367 legislators from both the houses at four sprawling towers to be built on the 12,000-sqm plot.

Currently, legislators are put up at four various places, with allotment of two rooms measuring about 300 sqft each. Most of the buildings of MLA hostels are in dilapidated condition, while the Majestic MLA hostel opposite Regal Cinema was demolished after civic body declared it dangerous.

“Legislators have been complaining of paucity of the space. Most MLAs accommodate people from their constituencies visiting Mumbai in their rooms. After the demolition of Majestic hostel, we were facing major space crunch and we had to compensate the rent amount to MLAs who did not get a second room as per the norms,” said an official from the public works department.

Sitting MLAs will be given two rooms – one measuring 650 sqft for them and another 350 sqft for the personal assistants, workers and voters from constituencies. The towers will have about 750 rooms with ample parking space, commercial galas to accommodate utility services such as restaurant, laundary and stationary shops. The legislature secretariat has also planned to build community and conference halls and reserve rooms for various parliamentary committees visiting Mumbai from other states and Delhi.

The official said that the government has decided to ink an memorandum of understanding with the NBCC soon after Diwali and begin the construction by January 2017.

Deputy chairman of the legislative council Manikrao Thakre said, “We are expecting the construction to start at the earliest as the legislators are facing major problem. Once the sitting legislators are accommodated in the new towers, the government may think of using the old hostels for other purposes.”