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Gandhinagar, Oct 22 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to inaugurate 216 newly constructed, state-of-the-art flats for Gujarat MLAs in Gandhinagar on the occasion of Bhaibij (Bhai Dooj) on October 23, which marks the Gujarati New Year with the launch of a Rs 247-crore housing project on the lines of modern MP residences in Delhi.
The new residences in Sector 21 replace the old MLA flats in Sector 17, which were demolished in 1995 after they had become dilapidated since their construction.
Spread over 28,000 square metres, the project consists of 12 nine-storey towers equipped with contemporary amenities.
Public facilities include two landscaped gardens, an auditorium, a community hall, a canteen, a modern health club, a children’s play area, a senior citizen park, an internet lounge, an indoor game zone, a yoga and aerobics deck, a jogging and walking track and four entry/exit gates.
Officials said the residences are now fully furnished to meet the modern living standards for the MLAs.
On Wednesday, Shah celebrated his 62nd birthday in Ahmedabad on the occasion of Gujarati New Year. A friendly gathering at his residence was attended by senior political leaders, party members and well-wishers.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, BJP State President Jagdish Vishwakarma, Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary and several ministers, MLAs and councilors personally extended their greetings.
Shah also met supporters and greeted the visitors gathered at his residence for the New Year.
On Thursday, he will attend the inauguration ceremony of new MLA flats in Gandhinagar and is expected to attend other official events in the city, including meetings with newly appointed Gujarat cabinet ministers.
Meanwhile, recently, an important cabinet reshuffle took place in Gujarat, in which 19 new ministers were inducted, while six ministers from their previous team were retained. Harsh Shanghvi was promoted to the post of Deputy Chief Minister and Rivaba Jadeja, wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, also took oath as minister.
With the expansion, the Gujarat Council of Ministers now has 26 members including the Chief Minister, up from 17 earlier. The state, which has a 182-member assembly, is allowed a maximum of 27 ministers or 15% of the total strength of the House.
–IANS
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