Chandigarh, June 20 -- The Punjab government has kicked off the construction of a seven-storey working women's hostel in Mohali as part of a broader initiative to provide safe and affordable accommodation for women employed away from their hometowns.

Punjab social security, women and child development minister Baljit Kaur inaugurated the project at Sector 66, Mohali, on Thursday in the presence of MLA Kulwant Singh.

According to the minister, the hostel is being built at an estimated cost of Rs.70 crore and will accommodate 484 working women upon completion, making it one of the largest government-run facilities of its kind in the state.

The project is being executed by the public works department.

The proposed hostel will offer a mix...