Construction of the District Office Complex on the German Press premises is on full swing. The construction works have been initiated by the Karnataka Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department in a 22,920 sqmts land with an estimated cost of Rs. 67,91,80,612.

The present DC office is in a 150-year-old heritage building and very congested. There is no parking place in the complex and except the Deputy Commissioner all other officials have to park their vehicles outside the complex. Many district offices, including Social Welfare and BCM offices, which were functioning at the DC Office complex, have shifted to private buildings.

Now, only a few offices like the Treasury, the Food and Civil Supplies Department, the Deputy Director of Land Records and the Deputy Commissioner’s office are functioning in the heritage complex.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and Public Works Department Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa had laid the foundation stone for the new office at the German Press premises on August 7, 2016. The construction work has been entrusted on Pune-based M/s Shirke Construction Technologies Pvt. Limited and the company has already completed the foundation and the construction of basement with concrete pillars is on.

The building will have a built area of 22,920 sqmts with a basement of 9,150 sqmts, ground floor of 4,720 sqmts, first floor of 4,500 sqmts and will have the second floor of 4,550 sqmts. As per the tender terms, the company will have to complete the works by May 24, 2018. Shirke Constructions has the experience of constructing Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru, and the executive wing of Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi.

Space for parking vehicles will be earmarked at the basement, District Registrar’s Office, Treasury and Muzarai offices on the ground floor, DC office on the first floor. Offices of Backward and Minorities Development Department, Department of Mines and Geology, Department of Legal Metrology, Fisheries Department, Excise Department and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Development Board will be located on the second floor.

ROAD WORKS

Along with the construction of the office complex, road widening works from Dairy Circle in Siddarthanagar till Bannur Road Junction are also on. Already, electricity poles have been shifted and work on box culvert pipeline, water pipeline, and drainage works and minor bridges have been completed.

Asphalting works of the road between Teresian College and Bannur Ring Road Junction is also underway and all the above road works will be completed and thrown open to traffic by March end.

The total estimate of the road works is Rs. 30.50 crore. The road works are being undertaken by Bapuji Constructions and along with the road works, road dividers and lighting works will also be undertaken.

By S.T. Ravikumar