Gujarat Legislative Assembly

After formation of Gujarat state in 1960, Ahmedabad was a capital of the state. The Assembly started functioning from the present day OPD building of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. The new capital city, Gandhinagar was built in 1971. Later assembly was shifted to Central Library building, sector-17, Gandhinagar on 11 February 1971. The new assembly building, Vithalbhai Patel Bhavan, was completed and inaugurated in 1982. Since then the Gujarat legislative assembly functions there.[1]

President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy laid foundation stone of new assembly building, Vithalbhai Patel Bhavan on 20 March 1978. It was designed by H. K. Mewada, chief planner of Gandhinagar. The construction was completed in July 1982 and it is named after Vithalbhai Patel, the first Indian speaker of Central Legislative Assembly during the British period. It was inaugurated by the Governor Sharda Mukherjee on 8 July 1982.[1]

It is constructed with Reinforced concrete and the outer walls of the building is affixed with Dholpur light pink stones. The building is constructed on the 133 square metre platform amid a water pool having diameter of 200 metres. This central building was linked with the Ministerial Secretariat by bridges formerly but now new buildings are constructed in between known as Swarnim Sankul. The building is 33.45 metres high including its octagonal dome. The constructed area of building is 8100 square metres while the total built up area of square platform is 17689 square metres. It has four floors with total built up area of 43350 square metres or total carpet area of 16180 square metres. The entrance of the building is reached by a flight of steps.[2]

The Assembly hall is situated on the second floor. It is octagonal from inside. The octagonal roof is supported by eight V-shaped pillars and one pillar in the centre. These pillars tapers and forms octagonal dome on the hall. There is an arrangement of white floodlights on the top. The hall has a capacity of 232 seats though currently the assembly has only 182 elected members. The hall is viewed from the galleries on the third floor which has a capacity of 564 seats.[2]

There is a podium just under the Assembly hall which is used for ceremonies and functions. The downward floor of the Assembly hall makes an umbrella-like roof of the podium. The podium has some personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel on display. There are oil paintings of several national leaders, independence activists and personalities on its walls.[2]

It was constructed at the cost of ₹ 6 crore.[2] The assembly building along with other government offices is in Sector 10 of Gandhinagar, a capitol complex spanning 370 acres.[1]