Though Mohali still lacks a court complex three years after becoming a district, it is fast becoming a state headquarter going by various departments of the state government that have opened in the city.

The Rural Development Department is the latest one to shift its base from Chandigarh to Mohali. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal inaugurated the state-of-art Vikas Bhawan in Sector 62 here on Sunday.

Spread over 3.268 acres of prime land adjoining the PUDA Bhawan and opposite the Fortis Hospital, the double-storey building has been divided into two blocks. While one block would house the offices of department, State Rural Development Institution would work in the second block, disclosed a senior official here today.

The Rs 37-crore joint venture project of Centre and Punjab on equal finance-sharing basis also houses a VVIP guest house with two VVIP suites and three VIP rooms having attached drawing and dining facilities built over 6,877 square yards covered area.

While Rs 12 crore has already been spent, Rs 15 crore is yet to be spent on the remaining construction work. So far, the Centre had released funds of Rs 6.72 crore while Rs 6.7 crore has been sanctioned by the state government.

Of the total 21,4762 square yards to be covered area, 11,3863 square yards area has already been constructed while the work is on to complete the remaining construction expeditiously.

A basement covering 1,940 square yards area provides parking space for 150 vehicles and two record rooms. The ground floor built over 18,710 square yards would have two court rooms, all public dealing branches, RTI branch, election wing, general administration, legal, grievances removal, land development, ETT and reception blocks while the offices of the rural development minister, administrative secretary, director, deputy director, other senior officials and air-conditioned conference hall with sitting capacity for 100 persons would be located on the first floor.

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