Poonam Tower Controversy: Maharashtra Government Pushes for Structural Audit and Acquisition for Vidhan Bhavan Expansion

Vidhan Bhavan expansion:  The Poonam Tower Nagpur—a half-constructed and long-abandoned building standing right opposite the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur—has once again returned to the spotlight. After years of valuation disputes, failed negotiations, and a history of structural neglect, the Maharashtra Government has now taken concrete steps to acquire the structure. This move is part of a broader initiative to expand the Vidhan Bhavan complex, which serves as the legislative headquarters for the state.

PWD Ordered to Conduct Fresh Structural Audit

According to highly placed sources, the Public Works Department (PWD) has been instructed to carry out a new structural audit of Poonam Tower. Simultaneously, the District Collectorate has been directed to assess the building’s market value, factoring in its present condition, decades of weathering, and incomplete construction.

This renewed interest reflects the state government’s urgency to resolve the decades-old stalemate and to reclaim valuable urban land for institutional use.

A Price Deadlock That Stalled Progress

The valuation of Poonam Tower has remained a persistent issue. Despite repeated efforts by the Government to strike a deal, the builder, N. Kumar, has refused to settle for less than ₹150 crore, while the Government had offered ₹55 crore.

Past attempts at acquisition faltered due to this wide gap in valuation, leading to repeated delays. MLC Dr. Parinay Fuke even proposed constructing underground passageways linking the tower to Vidhan Bhavan, envisioning the tower as an extension of the legislative complex. However, no consensus was ever reached, keeping the fate of Poonam Tower hanging in the balance.

2019 Structural Audit Raised Red Flags

In 2019, the PWD in collaboration with VNIT (Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology), conducted a structural audit that revealed serious concerns:

• Non-plastered exterior walls were heavily exposed to weather-related degradation.

• No protective coatings or paints were applied to prevent corrosion.

• Concrete deterioration and reinforcement corrosion was observed throughout the building.

• The main column supporting the front porch was crushed at its base, threatening the stability of the entire structure.

• Several interior slabs and walls remained unfinished, leaving the skeletal structure vulnerable to the elements.

The report strongly recommended a complete structural overhaul and, most importantly, the removal of the unsafe porch area.

Construction Stalled Since 1996 | Poonam Tower Nagpur 

According to local sources and former tenants, the construction of Poonam Tower began in 1996 but was abruptly stalled midway. While official explanations remain vague, some attribute the halt to security concerns due to its proximity to Vidhan Bhavan.

N. Kumar, the builder, maintains that he began the project only after receiving full approval from civic authorities. “If permission wasn’t granted, I wouldn’t have invested in the construction,” Kumar argued, adding that the abandoned project is a financial burden—a dead investment that can neither be used nor sold.

Government’s Silent Strategy to Resolve the Impasse | Vidhan Bhavan expansion

While public discourse around Poonam Tower has been largely muted, insiders report that the Government is quietly working on a resolution. A senior MLA, requesting anonymity, disclosed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is determined to see the acquisition through.

Further, Assembly Speaker Adv. Rahul Narvekar and State Council Chairman Ram Shinde have convened multiple meetings in Mumbai and Nagpur to explore expansion strategies for Vidhan Bhavan. The Poonam Tower issue has been tabled repeatedly, yet no public decisions have been shared, suggesting that a behind-the-scenes negotiation strategy is underway.

Government Press Land Now in the Mix

In a parallel development, the Government has begun evaluating the land currently occupied by the Government Press for the expansion of Vidhan Bhavan (Vidhan Bhavan expansion). This pivot indicates that multiple options are on the table, and the decision could swing based on feasibility, cost, and time efficiency.

However, Poonam Tower’s location remains strategically unmatched—it lies directly across from the legislative building, making it the most viable candidate for seamless expansion.

What Lies Ahead for Poonam Tower Nagpur?

The fate of Poonam Tower now hinges on two factors:

1. Findings of the upcoming structural audit by PWD

2. Agreement between Government and N. Kumar on valuation terms

If the audit deems the structure unsafe beyond repair, a demolition followed by reconstruction may be proposed. Alternatively, if structural integrity can be restored, the building may be retrofitted and repurposed for official legislative use, as originally envisioned.

Regardless of the route taken, it is clear that the Government is serious this time—Poonam Tower will either be acquired or bypassed, but it won’t be ignored any longer.

The Poonam Tower saga, spanning nearly three decades, might finally be drawing to a close. With political will, structural assessment, and property valuation aligning for the first time in years, Maharashtra Government appears poised to break the deadlock. Whether through acquisition, demolition, or compromise, this long-stalled project is finally back on the agenda—and the clock is ticking.