Hyderabad: The Telangana state government has decided to hand over the preparation of designs of the proposed new secretariat to Mumbai-based architect Hafeez Contractor. The file is under circulation and will be sent to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for his approval.
According to sources, chief secretary Rajiv Sharma and senior officials held discussions with the architect about the design of the new Secretariat. The government has informed Mr Contractor that there should be separate entrances for the CM, ministers and IAS officers and the building should face the east.
The designs will be ready by November end and Mr Rao will lay the foundation in December 2017, sources said. The Secretariat will be built on 5 lakh square feet with 10 floors.
The state government is trying to take over the Secretariat buildings allotted to the AP government since the AP Secretariat departments have shifted to Velagapudi in the new capital area of Amaravati.
Andhra Pradesh had been allotted five blocks in the Secretariat for its departments after bifurcation. A senior official said that the Governor’s decision was enough to take over the buildings allotted to the AP government and there was no need for the Central government’s approval.
The official added that if the AP government wanted some space, the TS government was ready to give alternative accommodation. Apparently, Mr Rao had discussed the issue with the Governor who may take it up with AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
