The government must not have provided enough space for common visitors from State in its proposed Jharkhand Bhawan in Delhi, Puri (Odisha) and Mumbai (Maharashtra), but the Building Constructions Department on Thursday denied neglect of Jharkhand travelers to those places at the planning level. Building Constructions Department Secretary Kamal Kishore Soan said that while existing Jharkhand Bhawan in Vasant Vihar (New Delhi) will be opened with more space for common travelers after new one is operational anytime after June 2019, the one proposed in Puri (Odisha) will have enough space for pilgrims.
"It is true that the proposed Jharkhand Bhawan in new Delhi will not have as much space for common as desired, because the whole idea of New Bhawans in Delhi and Mumbai is little different from traditional State Guest houses in the National Capital. However, the one to be constructed in Puri will have enough space for pilgrims and travelers because the political and business dynamics of Puri is completely different from that of Mumbai or New Delhi," said Soan.
Notably, Chief Minister Raghubar Das in November this year directed the Building Constructions Department to get new Jharkhand Bhawan in New Delhi before June 2019 and in Mumbai and Puri before December 2019. Construction of new Jharkhand Bhawan in Delhi which is expected to represent fine blend of culture and tradition of State is expected to commence before Republic Day next year.
Construction of one Jharkhand Bhawan in Puri was longstanding demand of pilgrims and government was also willing to fulfill this demand keeping upcoming similar Bhawans of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other states in the city of historical importance. Notably, over 80 per cent of spaces in new Jharkhand Bhawans in Mumbai and Delhi are kept restricted for common visitors.
"All three locations have different dynamics for Jharkhand. Mumbai is completely a business centre and despite all the planning of Jharkhand Bhawan to come up there has been done in order to facilitate investors and foreign delegates, for that matter on occasions, considerable space for common visitors have been provided even in it. The same is true for Delhi where the government wants it to be used more as a corporate centre in interest of the State and existing one be dedicated to the common people. The one coming up in Puri will have enough space for Jharkhand pilgrims there with minimal occupancy for every other VIPs except those unavoidable," said a Joint Secretary level official not willing to be named.