The main hall of the Legislative Council, forming part of the sprawling Vidhana Soudha, is to be renovated at a cost of Rs. 7 crore. The renovation work has been taken up to give a new and modern touch to the majestic Council Hall. The Public Works Department has invited and finalised tenders for taking up renovation work, which includes the installation of latest electrical and audio-video systems, Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy told The Hindu on Monday.
The Council, which was established in 1904, was renovated about 40 years ago. Renovation work was pending for the last two years, he said.
The entire hall, with its furniture, would be refurbished and modernised in such a manner that it would retain its originality as well as its unique heritage. All civil and electrical works would be completed by June-end and the renovated hall would be ready to host the monsoon session, an official of the Council Secretariat said.
Efforts have also been made to expand the area of the media gallery. A portion of the visitor’s gallery would also be earmarked for the media, the Chairman said.
Latest earphones and lighting system would be installed as per specifications. The quality of earphones installed in the Council hall at the Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum was better than the ones in the Vidhana Soudha. A new carpet would be laid to enhance the appearance of the 75-member House, Mr. Shankaramurthy said.
The chair of the Chairman, members and in those in the visitors’ gallery would be refurbished. To expedite the work, the contractor has already removed all chairs and tables from the hall and erected iron rods to paint walls and install the new lighting system.
The Legislative Assembly has also proposed to undertake renovation work of the Assembly Hall. The last renovation of the Assembly Hall was carried out in 1986 for the SAARC Summit.
