Shortage of Funds, New DC’s Office Complex at Padil will take ONE More Year to Complete
Mangaluru: The New Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, at Padil, Mangaluru near to Forest Department, which had started its construction on 9 February 2018, where the 2.3 lakh square foot three-storey building being built on 5.8 acres, and which was suppose to be inaugurated in September- December 2019, will now be delayed by one more year, due to shortage of funds.
Addressing the media persons, MLA of Moodabidri Umanath Kotian said, “The building will accommodate 38 departments and offices of MLAs and MP. The construction was initially planned at an estimated cost of Rs 41 crore, but the actual cost may cross Rs 55 crore. After thorough inspection of the ongoing construction work, that though the project was started in 2018, it suffered a financial deadlock due to the farm loan waiver, and the flood that resulted in huge losses in the state. Later, the cost of construction increased due to the hike in price of materials. The government will release funds and expedite the work at the earliest”.
“Though the site for the construction of the DC’s office complex was identified in 2014, the project could not be taken up due to litigation related to the forest department. Within a month we will convene a meeting here which will also be attended by the eight MLAs from the district, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, district minister Kota Shrinivas Poojari and district in-charge secretary V Ponnuraj. The meeting will discuss initiatives to complete the project at the earliest, and a delegation will meet chief minister B S Yediyurappa seeking funds. We will make this DC’s office complex a model one for the entire state,” added MLA Kotian.
Sources reveal that the upcoming DC’s complex will sport a spacious parking facility, which can accommodate nearly 200 cars. At present nearly Rs 32 crore has been spent for the present structural work, and the government will release another Rs 24 crore, and the remaining funds will be released in a phased manner. According to MLA Kotian, there are plans to hand over the old DC’s complex near State Bank in the City to Mangaluru Smart City Limited-however, the final discussions on this matter will be finalized soon, said the MLA.
