Sources at the PWD said that the work had been stalled owing to paucity of fund and also expressed the escalation of cost owing to the delay
The Public Works Department (PWD) is yet to begin the restoration of Writers' Buildings even after two years of receiving the working plan from the department of architecture of Jadavpur University (JU).
"We had completed the work assigned to us and submitted the work plan in July 2015. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too had a look at the presentation and was pleased with the work. It is now up to the PWD to take things ahead," said Professor Madhumita Roy, head of the department of JU's architecture department.
A committee comprising Malay Kumar De, state Chief Secretary; Atri Bhattacharya, Home Secretary; HK Dwivedi, Principal Secretary, Finance and Indevar Pandey, Principal Secretary, PWD had been put up to oversee the execution of the plan. When called, Bhattacharya said Pandey would be the best person to talk to but he was not available for a comment.
Sources at the PWD said that the work had been stalled owing to paucity of fund and also expressed the escalation of cost owing to the delay. "Initially the cost of renovation was estimated at Rs 200 crore in 2013 but there will definitely be an escalation in charges. That will depend upon how the PWD wanted the decor to be and how soon the job is given a green signal," a source said.
Senior PWD officials, however, attributed the delay to other factors. "Some government departments are yet to be relocated from the Writers' and there is also a building which needs to be brought down. We are also looking at the proposed route of East West Metro which would run from the vicinity before beginning the renovation work at the Writers' Building," said a senior official requesting anonymity.
The work plan, which DNA has access to, shows that the floor area of CM's office would be 32 feet x 20 feet on the first floor. Attached to that would be her personal toilet and a studio space which has been planned keeping in mind her affinity to drawing pictures. Beside, there would be a conference room on the same floor area and adjoining that a waiting room for ministers and VVIPs.
Next to the other side of the CM's cabin would be a pantry of 13 feet x 11 feet, a space of 13 feet x 10 feet to accommodate office equipment and another waiting area of 22 feet x 18.5 feet for visitors.
Sources at the architecture department of JU said that the plan had been made in sync with the CM's suggestions. "Her office will be on the first floor with an uninterrupted view of the lake across the road in front of the building. Provisions for plants and a foyer had been kept behind her room. No dark colour, as per the instructions of the CM, would be used in the cabin and the floor is likely to be of vitrified tiles," said a senior official of the department.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "DNA")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}