Global recession has badly hit the ambitious project of Public Works Department (PWD) for renovation and extension of Vidhan Bhavan building, MLAs Hostel and Ravi Bhavan on Build-Own and Transfer (BoT) basis at Nagpur.Sources informed that no major private player has shown interest in the ambitious renovation project worth Rs 175 crore. The last date for receiving of tenders was January 27, and no one had submitted offer letter till date. Maharashtra Cabinet has given nod to the proposal of PWD for renovation of government buildings by developing 12,695 sq mt of land with permissible construction of 35,000 sq mt at the office of PWD Division I at Sadar market in November 2008. This is a prime land at Sadar market with PWD. The developer was to commercially use this prime land and in turn would construct buildings and renovate old building worth Rs 100 crore. Maharashtra Government has agreed to give the land on 99 year lease to developer. The contractor was required to construct commercial complex or multiplexes on land of PWD division I and from that amount, he/she was to construct and renovate buildings. Maharashtra Legislature, the space of chambers for Ministers, Ministers of State and other important office-bearers was found woefully inadequate for discharging their official duties. The party offices have small area for legislative party meetings and it is very difficult to accommodate post office, banks therefore, the department has proposed construction of new G + 9 building at Vidhan Bhavan premises. The legislators are also demanding additional room for accommodation of their constituency workers and party workers. In Mumbai MLA Hostel, the legislators are having two blocks, one for them and other for their party and constituency workers. The department has proposed two new floors at existing MLA Hostel buildings. The office staff of various departments of Mantralaya, Vidhan Bhavan, secretaries, principal secretaries are residing in different places like hostel of Vasantrao Naik College, Institute of Science which affects the education of students. Some of the staff members are accommodated in 160 rooms meant for regular government employees.
It was proposed that Government should construct new building for accommodation of these employees. The department has also proposed to unite all the offices of PWD in one administrative building. Sources informed that in spite of construction of Rs 100 crore, the department has sought highly inflated premium from the contractor. A pre-tender conference with reputed developers and builders was held at Nagpur last year. The developers had raised some issues related to terms and conditions of tender but Maharashtra Government had rejected their objections. The proposal was good if it was to materialise in 2006-07, when there was boom in realty market, now, the position has drastically changed. The realty market has taken a nosedive and there are no takers for high price commercial premises. The construction of shopping complex and multiplexes of NMC too came to a grinding halt due to bad economic situation of realty market.
