If things progress smoothly N N Vohra, the Centre's new interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, would have a new address by the end of this month.

According to sources close to Vohra, he would have his new office in Vigyan Bhavan and would have a separate personal staff.

The union home ministry has confirmed that Vohra has asked for a separate office from where he could function as interlocutor. Vohra's His predecessor and deputy chairman of the planning commission K C Pant operated from his house and office during his tenure as interlocutor.

"We are examining his proposal and a suitable place would be provided to him to enable him function effectively. After all he needs an address from where he could function," said a senior home ministry official.

Vohra who visited Jammu earlier this month to hold talks chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and with the elected representatives of the new state assembly also called on governor Girish Chander Saxena and speaker of the state assembly.

"I had a good meeting with the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. I have not yet drawn any schedule about my next visit to the state," Vohra told rediff.com.

Vohra has been keeping a low profile and maintaining secrecy about the nature of the talks he has had with Sayeed and other leaders in the state, including those from the Congress party and the National Conference.

"This is expected from a top bureaucrat who is known for his integrity," remarked a senior associate of Vohra.

According to sources Vohra is does not want to mess up things by hurrying matters in state.

"He would take his own time. He wants the politicians to settle down after the budget session of the state assembly. By the end of April most of the politicians would return to the valley. That would be the right time to visit Kashmir for him to hold talks with various groups in the valley. He is keeping a tab on developments in Kashmir and is in touch with the political outfits," said a close aide of Vohra.

Vohra has so far not offered any formal invitation to the All Parties Hurriyat conference leaders to come and hold talks with him.

"APHC leaders are currently in Delhi and are moving around in diplomatic circles. But they have not contacted the interlocutor so far," the source added.

Abdul Gani Bhatt, chairman of APHC, had told newsmen that the executive of APHC has not taken any formal decision whether it should meet Vohra or not. "We are watching the developments," Bhat said when asked for his reaction on appointment of Vohra as interlocutor.