Four years on, new SMC building project still gathering dust

SURAT: It has been nearly four years since the then chief minister Anandiben Patel had laid the foundation stone for the new building for the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) headquarters in May 2015 on the land where old sub-jail once stood.
However, the project has been gathering dust because the ruling BJP is not able to decide on the requirements and design of the entire complex.Moreover, the civic body was able to finalise the consultant to chalk out the plan only recently, even as the cost of the project escalates to Rs 500 crore from Rs 300 crore when it was announced in 2015.
Sources in the SMC said that with final planning and approval yet to come it is unlikely that the project will be completed before 2022.
SMC city engineer, Bharat Dalal told TOI, “We needed 66,000 sq metre of space after finalising requirements of all our departments. This doesn’t include lobbies, toilets and other space. We are working how much total area will be needed to run the headquarters.”
He further said that the SMC was still not sure how many floors it would need to built on the 22,000 sq metre plot that has been alotted for the project.
The idea for a new building for SMC headquarters was first floated in 2012. Initially, it was decided to build a 66 floor building. The idea was shelved and it was proposed to build two 30-storyed buildings. But that idea too altered to two building with 23 and 13 floors respectively.
There was never a consensus between the ruling and opposition parties over the issue as the cost will have to be borne by the civic body.
The SMC in its last tender scrutiny committee meeting decided to pay consultancy based on the area of construction.
An SMC official said, “In the coming six months final planning of the project and approval will be done. Only after the this construction on site could begin. The completion of building will take at least three years.”
SMC commisioner M Thennarasan said, “The consultant has been finalised. It will be sent to standing committee for approval in short time. We are moving ahead cautiously.”