New seat of power hanging in the air
The HinduThe desire to work in the state-of-the-art secretariat, under construction for over a year-and-a-half now, remains unfulfilled for employees who are now working in a scattered manner ever since the State government started demolition of the old secretariat complex. Demolition of the old secretariat, comprising 10 blocks, including a Nizam-era building ‘G’ block with a total built-up area of over 9 lakh sq.ft, started on July 7, but had to be stopped briefly following a stay granted by the High Court in response to a public interest litigation filed against razing of the old complex. In addition to key departments, the new complex is expected to accommodate offices of the heads of departments which were hitherto functioning from offices outside the secretariat, utilising over 3 lakh sq.ft additional built-up area that will be available once construction of the new complex is completed in all respects. Work on the complex progressed briskly ever since it commenced in mid-November after the government completed all the formalities and handed over the possession of the land to the construction agency. And, according to the agreement signed between the construction agency and the government, the complex completed in all respects was to be handed over to the government in the third week of November last year.