Narendra Modi moves into his new office

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues moved into a newly-built four storey office building here today.

After inaugurating the new building 'Swarnim Sankul-1'this afternoon, the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues officially moved into the office.

"The lamp lighting ceremony (as part of the building inauguration) was performed by Savji Damor, a class-IV employee of the Sachivalaya (state secretariat)," an official release said.

The new office complex, built reportedly at a cost of Rs 150 crore, was completed in about a year's time. It is located next to the old CM office on the Sachivalaya campus.

'Swarnim Sankul-1' consists of offices for ministers and secretaries. It has a room for cabinet meetings, a data centre and a work space for 1,000 employees.

Revenue Minister Anandi Patel, along with other state ministers, Additional Chief Secretary K Kailasnathan and other high ranking officials were present during the inauguration function.

The Chief Minister moved into his office on the third floor while rest of the ministers have offices on the second floor of the same block.

After the function, Modi presided over the first meeting of his cabinet.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Argentina today paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Minister.

Earlier in the day, Modi, who is observing a fast of Navratris, had gone to the temple of Ambaji in north Gujarat, where he offered prayers on the fifth day of his fast.

"It is my good fortune to visit this place in the Navratris and pray before the mother for the well being of the state and its people," Modi said in Ambaji.