New Vidhan Bhavan will be built in Uttar Pradesh on the Lines of Central Vista

• 04 Mar 2023

Why In News?

On March 3, 2023, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana said that Uttar Pradesh will soon get the gift of a new Vidhan Bhavan on the lines of the country's new Parliament Building (Central Vista). Members of the 18th Legislative Assembly will get a chance to sit in the new Assembly.

Key points

• Vidhan Sabha Speaker Satish Mahana said that a target will be set to complete the construction of the new Vidhan Bhavan before the year 2027. It will be fully eco-friendly, earthquake resistant and equipped with modern facilities.
• Due to the old building becoming very old, the space is reduced according to the growing needs, due to the pressure of heavy traffic around, a new Vidhan Bhavan is being built elsewhere. For this, initially Rs 50 crore has been kept in the budget.
• The Uttar Pradesh government aims to hold at least one session of the 18th Assembly in the new Vidhan Bhavan. The new Vidhan Bhavan will be constructed according to the growing needs.
• It is noteworthy that the current Vidhan Bhavan is about 100 years old. Its foundation was laid on December 15, 1922, by the then Governor Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler. The building was completed in about six years and was inaugurated on February 21, 1928.
• The present Vidhan Bhavan was constructed by M/s Martin & Co. of Kolkata. Its chief architects were Sir Swinton Jacob and Hira Singh. At that time Rs 21 lakh was sanctioned for the construction of Vidhan Bhavan.
• The present Vidhan Bhavan of Uttar Pradesh is an excellent example of the mixed style of European and Awadhi construction. It currently has a seating capacity of 403 MLAs.
• In July 1935, a separate chamber was proposed for the meetings and office rooms of the Legislative Council. The extension building was constructed by chief architect A.M. Martin. It was completed in November 1937 under the supervision of the Public Works Department. The Legislative Council currently has a seating capacity of 100 members.
• It is known that in the Central Vista project, along with the new Parliament building in Delhi, other central government offices are being constructed. It is believed that this new Parliament building will emerge as a magnificent example of architecture competing with the monuments of the colonial period along with grandeur.