PWD officials, cops step up Writers’ prep for new govt

Kolkata: Senior PWD officials on Wednesday stepped up preparations to shift the state secretariat to the historic Writers' Buildings as the incoming BJP govt is apparently unwilling to work from Nabanna.The urgency of the move was underlined by a police inspection on Wednesday, when officers visited different floors of the Writers' Buildings to assess the layout, review the repair work and examine how security arrangements would have to be redesigned before the new CM and ministers started working from there. Work on the second floor was partly complete, and that floor was being considered for the chief minister's office if approved by the coming CM, said an official.The police review focused on access control, movement inside the complex and ways to prevent disorder on the premises. Visitors' entry restrictions are being considered, with one proposal being allowing public access only from 2 pm to 5 pm. Officers examined how the currently locked gates could be reopened and regulated to manage traffic and security.Police are treating the security blueprint as a priority, mindful of the chaos that marked Mamata Banerjee's first entry into the Writers' on May 20, 2011, when supporters surged forward and security was briefly overwhelmed. Officials said the new arrangements were being planned specifically to avoid a repeat of such scenes .The administration faces a major logistical challenge in readying the 1777-era structure within days. Officials said housing 44 ministers, and departmental secretaries, in the main block would be difficult, especially after the usable floor area was reduced from around 5.5 lakh sq ft to 2.8 lakh sq ft, following demolition of structures built between 1945 and 1971.An official said the final seating plan could only be worked out after the new CM took charge. For now, the suggestion is that several ministers may function from other govt offices, such as Swasthya Bhavan, Sech Bhavan, Purta Bhawan and Bidyut Bhawan. Some departments may continue from the new secretariat building for now. Officials said only a few could now operate from the Writers'. PWD officials admitted readying the entire complex in a few days would be hard.