The West Bengal Assembly is set to move to a new location in the future, with New Town in the northern outskirts of Kolkata selected as the site for the new assembly complex. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari disclosed this plan during a session on Saturday. He emphasized the necessity for a new assembly building similar to the Lok Sabha due to the anticipated increase in the number of legislators following delimitation and the implementation of 33% reservation for women.
The Chief Minister proposed that an all-party delegation, accompanied by representatives from the Public Works Department, visit the proposed site at New Town to initiate the planning process. Currently housing 294 seats, the assembly is expected to accommodate over 400 legislators post-delimitation, posing a challenge in providing adequate seating within the existing premises. Adhikari assured the availability of funds for the project, highlighting the difficulties faced in accommodating all MLAs during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing measures were in place.
Given the constraints posed by the heritage structure of the current Assembly building in central Kolkata, Adhikari suggested repurposing it for alternative uses. He recalled the challenges faced during the pandemic, where some legislators had to be seated in the visitor’s gallery due to space limitations.
