The New Indian Express 14.09.2009
GHMC Hall plans progress slowly
HYDERABAD: The proposed construction of the 15-storeyed GHMC Council Hall-cum-office building on the Lower Tank Bund Road near Indira Park to house corporators, elected representatives and officials is taking shape at a slow pace.
The building would be based on the Green Building Concept with the best available world-class technology, GHMC Engineering-in-chief, Panduranga Rao told Expresso.
GHMC has already appointed PM Consultants as advisor for the project for selecting bidders, evaluating tenders, legal matters and monitor construction activity till the project is completed.
For the Expression of Interest invited by the corporation, it has received four applications : (1) Premnath Associates, (2) Stup Construction Pvt. Ltd, 3) Design Associates all from Mumbai and (4) DK Associates from Delhi.
A few days ago, the GHMC convened a meeting in which three firms from Mumbai attended while DK Associates from Delhi skipped the meeting. They presented their primary concept designs for the proposed building.
Meanwhile, the State Government has appointed a seven-member committee to finalise the bidder. The committee will be meeting shortly to finalise the technical bids. Those who qualify in the technical bids will be eligible for the financial bid. The process will take two months.
The late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had laid the foundation stone for the new Council building on February 18 this year for the building.
Rao said that the office-cum-council hall would to accommodate as many as 400 members including 150 corporators, 50 MLAs, MPs, MLCs, Co-opted and other ex-officio members, 100 officials, 75 to 100 visitors.
The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Standing Committee office, council secretariat and even offices of several senior officials as well as some departments are likely to be accommodated inside the proposed civic tower estimated to cost about Rs 50 crore. Of the 15 floors, the first three floors will be for used for parking and the last two floors will have a council hall. The present council hall is unable to accommodate the increased number of corporators, MLAs, officers and visitors. Rao said that building will come up in 0.8 acres (4,000 sq.mts) land on the Lower Tank Bund Road. At present, the open land is being used as a garbage transfer station site.