Date:23/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/23/stories/2008072361170300.htm

New Delhi

Government departments jostling for space in new MCD Civic Centre

Staff Reporter

Income Tax Department, Rajya Sabha Secretariat have already sought space
Being approached by the Delhi Government, Public Grievances Commission, NCR Planning Board

NEW DELHI: The upcoming new City Centre of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been attracting substantial requests for space from several government and semi-government departments, according to MCD Standing Committee chairman Vijender Gupta.

Mr. Gupta cited the Civic Centre’s construction and building design, facilities, prime location and easy connectivity with different parts of the city as the main reasons for a large number of government and semi-government bodies approaching the civic body to provide space to them.

“In addition to the Income Tax Department and Rajya Sabha Secretariat which have sought 5.43 lakh square feet and 20,000 square feet of area in the civic centre respectively, the MCD has been approached by a number of prestigious government departments and institutions,” he said.

According to Mr. Gupta, they include the Delhi Government, Public Grievances Commission, National Capital Region Planning Board, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Limited, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India and Land and Building Cell of the Delhi Police.

“A number of leading corporate bodies have also approached the MCD for space in the civic centre,” added Mr. Gupta.

However, explaining the constraints on part of the MCD, Mr. Gupta said in view of the fact that the Income Tax Department had initiated the process of leasing about half of the covered area of the Civic Centre and the request of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat was already pending with the MCD, it might not be possible for the MCD to accede to the request of more government and statutory bodies. He said corporate bodies too were out of the purview of space consideration by the MCD.

Allaying doubts that adequate space would not be left to house the MCD’s own offices in the Civic Centre, Mr. Gupta said the MCD would not compromise on the space required for it as its offices from Town Hall and Nigam Bhawan were to be shifted to the new building. He said the MCD needed half of the covered space of the Civic Centre for use by its own offices.

The total area of the Civic Centre is about 12 lakh square feet. The complex comprises four six-storey building blocks and one 28 tower block housing the council hall, deliberative wing of the MCD and a cultural wing with museums, art galleries and an auditorium. Mr. Gupta said 50 per cent of the total floor area was designated as space to be given on lease.