The Maharashtra legislative secretariat has proposed to the state government to construct a new high rise in Nariman Point’s Manora hostel premises to accommodate all MLAs in bigger flats. The cost of constructing such a building would be approximately Rs60 crore, according to officials.
At present, there are two high rises for MLAs and MLCs at the Manora hostel. The buildings were built in the early 1990s and have 336 rooms in all measuring nearly 350 sq ft.
Apart from these two buildings, there are three other hostels for MLAs — Majestic, Annex and Akashwani. The three hostels and the two buildings in Manora have 663 rooms in all. Of these, 38 rooms in Annex are reserved for ex-MLAs. Since the legislature recently decided to allot two rooms to each MLA and MLC in any of the four hostels, the state needs 668 rooms — 43 more than what is available at present. Forty-five MLAs and MLCs were recently given just one room.
Chairman of the state council Shivajirao Deshmukh said that it was very important to add to the number of rooms available for MLAs.
“We are not able to offer the facilities that other states offer our dignitaries. At least 25 rooms must be reserved for guests so that they are accommodated easily,” he said. Deshmukh said though nothing has been finalised yet, the MLS has suggested that the government demolish the existing towers in Manora hostel.
“If demolished, it will help maintain uniformity and offer bigger flats to MLAs. The feasibility is being checked,” Deshmukh said.
Officials from the secretariat and Mantralaya, however, said it was unlikely that the demolition proposal would be accepted. “Demolition of the existing buildings is not required as the structures are just 15 years old and are in good condition. Instead, we could build another tower with 100 rooms,” said Anant Kalse, principal secretary, MLS. If the plan goes through, the MLS intends to keep at least 50 rooms reserved for guests from other states and for members of various committees of both the houses.
It was in the early 1980s that the then chief minister AR Antulay’s government decided to offer rent-free rooms to MLAs at the hostels during their tenure. Till then, rooms were given on an ‘as-and-when-needed-basis’ at a nominal charge.
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