Bhopal, May 20: The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will lay the foundation stone of the new building to house the Police Headquarters (PHQ) on Wednesday. State Home Minister Himmat Kothari will preside over the function.

The new PHQ building will come up behind the present PHQ in an area of 1,28,000 sqft on the banks of the Lower Lake. Madhya Pradesh Police Housing Corporation will construct the new building. This will be the biggest project the corporation will take up for construction since its inception.

The building will have basement and five storeys. After completion the present PHQ will be shifted to this building. The Bhavan is expected to be completed within 18 months.

On the occasion the Police Housing Corporation will hand over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to the chief minister from its profit. During the year 2007-08 the corporation has earned more than Rs 15 crore as net profit. Out of this, the corporation will provide Rs 3.5 crore to the police department for construction of multipurpose culture centres at Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur.

Bureaucrats to promote bicycle

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, May 20: Senior bureaucrats of Madhya Pradesh have come up with a novel idea to promote the use of bicycle with a solemn pledge to use it at least for a day in a week.

Fifteen IAS and IPS officers also floated a new organisation - Green Planet Bicycle Riders Association - for this cause, besides educating the people about pollution hazards caused by increased use of diesel and petrol.

Association President and Madhya Pradesh Industry and Commerce Principal Secretary Satya Prakash today cycled down to the TT Nagar stadium here to announce before reporters the organisation's future programmes aimed at making the city pollution free and lush green.

''We are appealing people to use bicycle at least for a day in a week'', Prakash said, adding a big cycle rally was proposed on June 1, while another rally would be carried out on World Environment Day on June 5''.

''Cycle race for juniors and seniors would be organised on June 8 also. Such events will be held in other cities of the state as well'', he added.