In a major infrastructure initiative, the Centre will construct Soochna Bhavans in 12 state capitals, marking its biggest push in years to enhance government interaction with regional media.

Proposed by the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, the complexes will be modelled on Delhi’s National Media Centre and bring units like the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Publication Division, and the CBFC under one roof. The first phase will cover Lucknow, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Each building, estimated at Rs 40 crore (totaling around Rs 480 crore), will house auditoriums, media workstations, e-libraries, VIP lounges, crèches, and gyms, alongside green features such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and waste management systems. The new complexes will feature modern IT infrastructure, auditoriums for press conferences, cultural events, and dedicated journalist facilities.