KOCHI: Going by the current progress, the new office building for the Kochi Corporation at Marine Drive will be ready in a year. Construction of the eight-storey building with state-of-the-art facilities was resumed last year after it was stuck for more than 11 years.
"Works of the new building are progressing fast and the contractor has agreed to complete it within a year. Construction of basement and first four floors has already been completed. Weekly review meeting is being conducted to ensure fast completion of the project," said mayor Soumini Jain.
The new office building project started in 2004 slowed down after the laying of the foundation. In 2005, the project was dropped after the cost escalated by many folds and the contractor demanded tender excess. The actual budget of the project was Rs 13.68 crore.
Later, the previous civic administration revived the project in 2014 by including it in the Mission Kochi programme and renewed the contract with the original contractor. The contractor has agreed to take up the work at an estimated cost of Rs 18 crore.
New office will have mini conference halls in every floor, reception area, bank, waiting rooms, library, rest rooms for drivers, press conference room, video conference hall, urban study centre and town planning room, among other facilities.
