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VIDHANA SOUDHA
This imposing edifice built almost entirely of dressed Bangalore granite is a tribute to temple architecture. Housing the Legislative Chambers of the state government, this 46 meter high seat of the government is Bangalore's best known landmark. This is one of Bangalore's most important buildings. Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Chief Minister of the then Mysore State between 1951-1956 was responsible for the concept, the structure and the setting of this magnificent building. There are four domes on all the four corners. The main entrance is overshadowed by the four headed lion,the symbol of Indian sovereignty. It houses 22 departments and 300 rooms. Supervised and executed by engineers and architects led by the then Chief Engineer, late B.R.Manickam of the Public Works Department, the Vidhana Soudha is an arresting monument. The building project was started in 1952 and took five thousand labourers, 1500 chisellers, masons and wood carvers four years to complete. Built entirely from Bangalore granite in the Dravidian style, it has floral motifs on stone carvings drawn from the celebrated temple craft of South India.
Total floor area: 5,50,505 square feet. Length: 700 feet. Width: 350 feet. Height from floor level to top of central dome: 150 feet. The project begun in 1952 was completed in 1956.
Recently The Karnataka government has constructed a replica, named Vikasa Soudha, to the south of the building. Initiated by the then Chief Minister, S M Krishna, and inaugurated in February 2005, it is intended to be an annexe housing some of the ministries and legislative offices.
VIKASA SOUDHA
The Vikasa Soudha was inaugurated on February 05, 2004 by the Karnataka Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, in the presence of the then Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna. The eight-storeyed new block has ornamental outer wall and resembles Vidhana Soudha.
Mr. Krishna laid the foundation stone for the Vikasa Soudha on August 30, 2001.
The South Block will have a grid interactive solar power system, with regular power supply as backup. The officials of the Public Works Department said the building would use half the plant capacity.
Extra power would be fed to the State Grid. But the corridors do no get natural light. There will be rainwater harvesting in the building, in compliance with recent Government moves towards water conservation.
The then Chief Minister Mr. Krishna was personally involved in the decor of the Chief Minister's chambers. The main hall of the Vikasa Soudha has a colourful map of the State.
The other features are the South Block has eight floors spread over an area of 7.5 acres, with a built-up area of 58,274 sq m. It has 360 rooms overlooking four courtyards. There will be three cafeterias.
The building has a sophisticated fire fighting system and the elevators installed there can carry between 13 and 20 passengers each. It will have a printing press. A pedestrian subway connects it to the Vidhana Soudha.
Vikasa Soudha, the new South Block of Vidhana Soudha build at a cost of Rs 148 crore. The South Block is built in an area of about 7.5 acres. It is an eight-storeyed structure with outer walls of ornamental stone work similar to the Vidhana Soudha facade.
The Vikasa Soudha is expected to save the government exchequer of Rs 5.50 crore now paid towards rental charges per annum for several government offices functioning in private buildings which will be moved to the new building.
The granite stones for the ornamental stone work was specially selected from quarries located in Hesaraghatta, Avalahalli, Mallasandra and Koira.
It will have hydro-pneumatic system for water supply and 100 KW solar power grid system, making it the first government building to have these systems.
There is parking facility for about 600 cars in the three basement floors.
Vikasa Soudha came into limelight recently when tennis champions Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza played a promotional match on a make-shift tennis court laid between the imposing Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha.
