In a move that could change the political fortunes of Bihari migrants living in Maharashtra, the Bihar Foundation, an organisation founded under the aegis of the Chief Minister of Bihar a decade ago, has purchased land worth Rs 130 crore in Mumbai’s South Mumbai area to set up a state-of-the-art Bihar Bhavan. The payment for the 3000 sq. metre plot owned by Mumbai Port Trust is being made by none other than the Bihar government.
Interestingly, the Bihar Bhavan will be the only building which will have a presence in Mumbai city. All the other Bhavans belonging to other states are located in Navi Mumbai and not in Mumbai.
Ravi Shankar Srivastav, former CEO of Bihar Foundation, confirmed the news, stating that the Foundation had been demanding a Bihar Bhavan in the city foryears now. “Mumbai has over 15 lakh Bihari population in Mumbai and the Bihar Foundation has been a rallying point for them in the city. We have taken this land from Mumbai Port Trust, who have approved the land and sent the file to the Ministry of Shipping for further approval,” he said, adding that the Bhavan, apart from hosting offices of the Bihar government, will also comprise of a state-of-the-art auditorium, shops promoting Bihari handicrafts, pulses, fruits, vegetables, species and each and every noted item that makes Bihar special for what it is.
Apart from the auditorium, it will also include a multipurpose hall for congregating and celebrating functions, as well as have rooms for people from Bihar who come to Mumbai for treatment.
The Foundation plans to bring down Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to the city once they take over the land. Refusing to admit whether the move is aimed to propel Kumar’s role more on a pan-India level through the Bhavan, Srivastav further added that one shouldn’t be surprised if there are more political visits from Bihar to Mumbai in the near future.
“Nitish Kumar is already a powerful figure nationally and, moreover, Bihar is known for its good administration. We plan to bring Kumar here once the possession of the land is in place,” he said.
On the condition of anonymity, officials from the Bihar government stated that they had approached both previous governments in the state for land allocation to build the Bhavan, but both had declined in the past. “They were giving us space in Navi Mumbai, which is outside of Mumbai.
The city witnesses a large number of Bihari migrants who come to Mumbai for work, and a Bihar Bhavan is much needed for them here.”