Development of minto hall heritage campus Bhopal, as convention centre

Abstract

Government of Madhya Pradesh intends to develop the Campus of Minto Hall, better known as Old Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, Bhopal, as a Convention Centre.Minto Hall is a Prominent Heritage Structure. The form of Minto Hall symbolizes the crown of George V, King of England. The building was brought up under the supervision of A.C. Rawan, the then Chief Engineer of Bhopal State. The building, for which a lot of material was said to have been brought from England, was completed in 24 years and its cost at that time was estimated as Rs. 3.0 lakhs.Minto Hall has been witness to varied experiences viz. from the mighty voice of Agents of British Imperialism, to the subdued voice of Indian India, from the heavy feet of authority to the rhythmic feet of dancing partners, from the confident feet of seekers of knowledge to the tired feet of travelers; as the building was put to uses such as Military Head Quarter of Bhopal State, Lake View Hotel, Skating Rink, Police Head Quarter and Inter College etc. With the reorganization of State of M P in 1956, the State Legislature started functioning in Minto Hall and continued to do so for the next 40 years i.e. till 1996, when new Vidhan Sabha building was constructed. It is interesting to note that the Minto Hall was never used for the purpose for which it was built. Minto Hall is located in the heart of the city. It is close to new as well as old Bhopal and thus located at a strategic position. Motilal Vigyan Mahavidyalaya and its Hostel buildings are situated at the rear i.e. north and north east side of Minto Hall; Aquarium is on the western side, while across the road i.e. in the south-west direction is the Rajbhawan. In view of the security of the Campus, a boundary wall was built in 1956. Main entry to Minto Hall is from Raj Bhawan side. The campus, although located along the main road joining New Market, a major commercial centre on New Bhopal side and Lal-Parade ground on old Bhopal side, enjoys a serene environment because of the existence of Gandhi Park between Minto Hall campus and the main road and the lower lake on the other side, which keep the hustle and bustle of traffic away from the campus.Apart from the heritage structure of Minto Hall, the Campus houses other structures viz. annexes of Minto Hall, a dispensary of Gas Relief Department and an Aquarium. Minto Hall may not be an architectural masterpiece but the fact that it has witnessed two important eras of the city and the State viz. Princely State of Bhopal and Bhopal as the capital of M.P. makes the structure unique. Also significant is the fact that it was the Assembly Building of the State of M.P. for a period of 40 years and many modifications were made to cater to the functional needs.