Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Monday inspected the ongoing construction work of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly complex and announced that the project is targeted for completion by October 2027.
Being constructed at an estimated cost of ₹113 crore, the new Assembly complex is designed with modern infrastructure and facilities on the lines of the new Parliament building. Choudhary stated that if work progresses as planned, the 2028 Budget Session is expected to be held in the new premises.
“We are committed to completing the project within the fixed deadline of October 2027. The 2028 Budget Session will likely be conducted in the new Assembly complex,” he said during his visit.
Officials briefed the deputy chief minister that the lower basement of the complex will provide parking space for 95 vehicles. The upper basement will include additional parking facilities along with two canteens and a wellness centre.
The main Assembly hall will have a seating capacity of 130 members, with provision to expand it to 142 if required. The complex will also feature four galleries with a combined seating capacity of 400 persons. Of these, two media galleries will accommodate 150 journalists, while the Guest Gallery and the Speaker’s Gallery will have a seating capacity of 35 persons each.
Choudhary noted that the project had remained stalled for seven to eight years without significant progress. He said the present government has restarted the work with clear instructions to ensure its timely completion. He added that both the Speaker and the Chief Minister have taken personal interest in expediting the project, with the Chief Minister recently reviewing the progress on site.
Describing the existing Assembly building as a heritage structure, the deputy chief minister said it has become congested and unsuitable for contemporary requirements. He emphasized that the new complex will offer a technologically advanced and comfortable working environment for legislators.
He also warned that no compromise on quality would be tolerated. Directing officials to maintain strict oversight, he cautioned against any collusion with contractors and asserted that accountability would be enforced at every level.
Earlier in the day, Choudhary conducted surprise inspections of Public Works Department offices to assess administrative efficiency and review ongoing systems. He reiterated that the government would not permit projects to be initiated and then left incomplete.
