Mangaluru : Former Union minister M Veerappa Moily inaugurated mini Vidhana Soudha building at Hampankatta in the heart of the city on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering after inauguration, Moily expressed hope that the Mini Vidhana Soudha would benefit the public.

“Though the construction of the building was inordinately delayed, the chief minister took steps to complete it,” he said.

Stating that the Port City of Mangaluru has become a prominent destination for business and industries, Moily stressed the need for such type of material infrastructure to attract the entrepreneurs.

The Mini Vidhana Soudha would house all offices related to Mangaluru taluk administration under one roof.

The building will have the taluk office, the office of the Assistant Commissioner, Mangaluru sub-division, offices of sub-registrar and land records, ‘Padasale’ of the Revenue Department – all functioning in the deputy commissioner’s office premises and the office of co-operative audit, at present.

The building covers 3,712 square metre, including basement and ground floor. The work was taken up at a cost of Rs 7.50 crore.

It may be recalled that the old taluk office in Mangaluru was demolished to make way for the Mini Vidhana Soudha. It was on August 27, 2007, the then Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone for the Mini Vidhana Soudha.

Both had assured Mangaloreans to complete the Mini Vidhana Soudha work at the earliest.

When the State government released Rs 200 lakh in 2007, it was decided to construct the basement and the first floor with the available fund. Later, the funds were released for the second floor.

In fact, at present, the taluk office, office of sub registrar and ‘Padasale’ are housed in old dilapidated buildings on the DC’s office premises. According to the office of the deputy commissioner, the new building has been built to strengthen the taluk administration under one roof.

The authorities have also sent an estimated cost to install lift at the Mini Vidhana Soudha to the State government for approval.

MLA J R Lobo presided over the programme.

District In-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai, Health Minister U T Khader, Youth  Services and Sports Minister K Abhaychandra Jain, Puttur MLA Shakuntala Shetty, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred, MUDA Chairman Ibrahim Kodijal and others were present on the occasion.