Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041061620300.htm

New Delhi

New Civic Centre to be ready by year-end: Mayor

Staff Reporter

The complex will comprise four six-storey blocks

‘Lifts and escalators from China and Switzerland are likely to be received shortly’
Headquarters of the civic body in Town Hall has been declared a heritage building

NEW DELHI: The upcoming new Civic Centre of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi being constructed at a cost of Rs.550 crore is expected to be completed by this year-end, Mayor Arti Mehra said on Wednesday.

During a visit to the construction site, Ms. Mehra reviewed the progress of work and said: “The project is likely to be complete by December 2008 for commissioning. The procurement of all other equipment has already been initialised. Lifts and escalators from China and Switzerland and ‘DG’ sets from Germany are likely to be received shortly.”

Spread over 12 acres, the civic centre -- the proposed new headquarters of the civic body – would be the tallest high-rise in the Capital with a height in excess of 100 metres. Once complete, the complex will comprise four six-storey blocks, one 28-storey tower block and a services block, with a ground coverage of 25 per cent.

The current headquarters of the civic body located in Town Hall has already been declared a heritage building.

The Mayor said traffic management plans were also afoot to organise vehicular flow on roads leading to New Delhi railway station and the Civic Centre. Also planned are an underpass from Connaught Place to the Civic Centre for providing unhindered entry to the proposed civic headquarters and a subway at this intersection and widening of all roads around the civic centre.