Civic body to build its own headquarters

Five years after its formation, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has finally decided to construct its own headquarters. The SDMC standing committee on Thursday passed a proposal for the construction of its headquarters at IP Estate, near Pragati Maidan. At present, the SDMC functions from the Civic Centre, headquarters of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Standing committee chairman Shailender Singh Monti said that the SDMC headquarters will be constructed over a plot measuring 8.75 acre at IP Estate. “The new swanky building will be constructed by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) in a record minimum possible time.”

SDMC commissioner P.K. Goel said that the civic body will have an added advantage by engaging the NBCC for building the headquarters as the same government agency has been entrusted the responsibility of constructing the new exhibition-cum-convention centre over the land presently occupied by Pragati Maidan.

“The land in question measuring 8.75 acre had been in possession of the SDMC for development of a district park. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has conveyed its nod for change in land use, hence the desk are clear for constructing the SDMC headquarters,” added Mr Goel.

According to Mr Monti, the new building is likely to be commissioned by the end of 2018 as its construction, along with construction of the new exhibitioncum-convention centre, will be directly monitored by the Union government and the layout land will be approved within a week of submission of the plan.