Govt to build Soochna Bhavans in 12 state Capitals in biggest regional media push in years

The first phase will see buildings in Lucknow, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad and Kolkata, at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore each — about Rs 480 crore in total. They will include auditoriums for press conferences and film screenings, media workstations, e-libraries, VIP lounges, and welfare facilities such as crèches and gyms, alongside green building features.

According to I&B Ministry’s proposal, the Soochna Bhavans will feature state-of-the-art workspaces with modular workstations, ergonomic furniture, high-speed internet, secure servers, an IP-based EPABX system, LAN network, access control, CCTV, and baggage scanners. Built on vacant land within centrally located All India Radio or Doordarshan campuses for easier access, the complexes will also incorporate energy-efficient lighting, solar panels, rainwater harvesting and waste management systems.

Most offices of the I&B Ministry’s media units are currently scattered across cities, often in private rented buildings far from state government offices. This, officials said, hampers coordination and slows the execution of campaigns. “This leads to poor execution of tasks related to dissemination of information or executing government campaigns at the state or regional levels,” an official said.

Each Soochna Bhavan will be a ground-plus-four-floor structure. The ground floor will, where possible, include three multi-purpose auditoriums with a seating capacity of 150 each, operated by a private agency selected through a tender. These spaces will be used for press conferences by central and state ministers, CBC film screenings, large conferences, and cultural performances such as dance and theatre, and will be fitted with audio-video equipment for varied uses.

The complexes will also have a media centre for journalists with 25–30 workstations and access to an e-library to enable better interaction with PIB officers. There will be storage for CBC advertising material, a DPD book display lounge, a daily newspaper counter, a common conference room with video-conferencing facilities, a rehearsal hall for the Song and Drama Division, and a VIP lounge for visiting dignitaries.

Technical facilities for local Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) units, transit guest rooms for visiting officers, and welfare amenities such as a crèche, yoga room and gym will also be part of the design.

A PIB-designated nodal officer will coordinate with stakeholders on approvals, while central and state-level panels will clear the final building layouts.