Writers’ decked up for new regime

It's change in the air, or so it seems. When the new government takes charge, possibly next week, a new-look and decked up Writers' Buildings will welcome it. To that end, the state PWD has already started renovating the seat of power in West Bengal.

PWD secretary A R Bardhan said that they were planning for total overhaul of the secretariat. "Even the chief minister's secretariat is not in good shape. But this will be done in phases."

There will be new water purifiers and mobile phone chargers as well.

The toilets are going to have self flashing auto eye, so that the flash works automatically. In one of the toilets on the first floor, a hand dryer has been installed. Automatic shoe polishers will soon be installed in the toilets. Last year, when Italian delegates had gone to a stinking toilet, it was a loss of face for the state administration. They had come to meet the chief minister.

The chief minister's chamber will have a new look, an official said and added that the decor of the chief secretary's room had been changed. "New furnitures have been added and old telephones removed."

The rotunda meant for meetings will be given a new look and two giant screen televisions will be installed. The cabinet room on second floor will have computers and projectors along with Wi-Fi facility. There will also be space for secretarries.

The visitors room for the chief minister will also be refurbished. The sitting pattern will be realigned and the statue of Mahatma Gandhi will have a new look. PWD plans to set up a new waiting room for ministers who do not have office in Writers' Buildings.

Similarly, IAS officers posted outside Writers' will have a lounge.

PWD officials are planning to remove the stores on the ground floor, as over 3000 sq feet is used by these stores. "Store of the jail's department near Lyons' Range occupy huge space. We will remove all stalls," an official said.

Even as renovations are on, several IAS and IPS officers have asked for more space. Some officers wanted space in the VIP zone. DGP Naparajit Mukherjee recently wrote to chief secretary Samar Ghosh for additional space.

Once PWD officials know the size of the new cabinet, the finer details of the newlook secretariat could be worked out.