JOIN USAfter the Upper House, it is the turn of the Lower House of the State legislature to undergo renovation.
The Legislative Assembly secretariat has taken up renovation of the Assembly hall at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. The hall will sport a fresh look with new covers for seats, floor carpets and furniture in both the opposition and the ruling party spaces.
This apart, toilets will be repaired. The work will be implemented in such a way that it retains the originality, Assembly secretary Omprakash said.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has awarded the contract to implement the renovation work to Sanjay Marketing. The work began three days ago and is expected to be completed in three months.
The Assembly secretariat has already completed the work to instal electrical and audio system. The Assembly hall was last renovated in 1986 for the SAARC summit.
New-look Council
The Council secretariat renovated its hall a few months ago at a cost of about Rs 7 crore.
The entire Council hall was refurbished, including installation of new electrical and audio system and furniture. It was earlier renovated about 40 years ago.
Session in Belgaum
“The renovation work is expected to be completed in January next year. The work has been entrusted now as the winter session of the legislature will be held at Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum. I have written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to hold the Belgaum session in November. But there has been no response from the government so far,” Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said.
The Public Works Department had twice failed to complete the tendering process to award the renovation work in the Assembly hall early this year.
One of the unsuccessful contractors had challenged the tenders in court, which had set them aside. It was also reported that the estimates prepared by the PWD for changing seat covers were exorbitant.
DH News Service