KOCHI: Mayor Soumini Jain has started reviewing the progress of various projects initiated by the previous UDF council and on Monday she inspected the worksite of the much-delayed new office building complex of the Kochi Corporation at Marine Drive.
“The complex with state-of-the-art facilities designed to suit the requirements of the fast growing city, will be completed within one and half years. Const-ruction of basement, ground floor, first floor and the second floor has already been completed,” said Ms Jain.
The project started in 2004 slowed down after building the foundation. In 2005, the project was dropped after the cost escalated by many folds and the contractor demanded ‘tender excess’.
The actual budget was Rs 13.68 crore. The council revived the project last year by including it in the Mission Kochi programme. The contractor agreed to take up the work at an estimated cost of Rs 18 crores.
The six–storeyed building will have facilities including conference rooms on every floor, reception area, bank, waiting rooms, library, health section, restrooms for drivers, press conference room, video conference hall, urban study centre and town planning room.
The 200-seat council hall, visitors’ gallery, mayor’s office, deputy mayor’s office and rooms of standing committee chairpersons will be set up on the first floor.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
