Soon, new apartment to accommodate ministers from districts

The state government is constructing a 10-storeyed residential building for ministers from the districts having an independent portfolio at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore.

The initiative was taken by the government to ensure that all the ministers in the independent charge of departments get a permanent residence here in the city. It was learnt that the new building would come up on Raja Basanta Roy Road where all the ministers from the districts would be accommodated.

Every minister will get a flat measuring around 1,700 square feet each with three bedrooms, a dining space, a kitchen, bathroom and a balcony.

There will also be an accommodation for a caretaker and the security personnel of the minister as well.

The multi-storeyed building will have all modern facilities. There will be two flats in each floor. In the initial phase, only the independent ministers will get an accommodation but the state government also has a plan to set up another building where Ministers of States for various departments who are from districts could be accommodated.

On the ground floor, there will a community hall, a parking lot and rooms where security personnels will stay. There is a separate MLA hostel on the Kyd Street for MLAs but there is no residential complex for ministers. As a result, the ministers coming from the districts face a lot of problems.

According to sources, around 20 Cabinet ministers are soon going to get a flat at the residential building in South Kolkata.

It was also learnt that the construction of the building is likely to be completed within April this year.

The work for the distribution of flats among the ministers would be started immediately after the completion of the construction.