Legislators to get bigger rooms

MUMBAI : 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

MUMBAI : 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 for personal assistants of the legislators and workers from their constituencies visiting Mumbai.

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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. “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 750 rooms with ample parking space, commercial galas to accommodate utility services such as restaurant, laundry and stationary shops.

The official said the state will ink an MoU with the NBCC soon after Diwali and start construction by January 2017.

Deputy chairman of legislative council Manikrao Thakre said, “Once the legislators are accommodated , the state may think of using old hostels for other purposes.”