Work on the Suvarna Soudha is in the final stages of completion.
The officials of the departments of Public Works and Ports and Inland Water Transport supervising the work are confident that the building will be ready by June-end as the State government plans to hold its monsoon session there.
Firm gives assurance
Pune-based B.G. Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd., which was awarded the tender, has also assured that all works will be completed by June 30.
Civil and interior works on the Assembly and Council halls, chambers of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council, the central hall, chambers of the Chief Minister and Ministers, Cabinet and conference halls, Secretariat office halls, and banquet and buffet halls are almost complete.
Progressing fast
Works on fixing furniture, audio system are progressing at a fast pace.
Work on the Suvarna Soudha, which is located on 127 acres in Halga-Bastwad villages off the Pune-Bangalore National Highway 4, commenced on August 12, 2009 at an estimated cost of Rs. 230 crore. The work was expected to be completed in 18 months.
However, delays cost the exchequer an additional amount of Rs. 161 crore as the revised estimate shot up to Rs. 391 crore.
So far, Rs. 353 crore has been spent. According to Superintendent Engineer of the department Vinayak Sugur and Assistant Engineer C.B. Hiremath here on Sunday, the main structure consists of four floors, including the ground floor, spread over 16,138 sq sm.
They said that interior works such as wall panelling, floor carpeting and installation of air conditioning units was almost complete.
Work on the six small domes on the terrace has been completed and it is in the final stages on the big dome.
It may be recalled that work on the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore was taken up under the leadership of the then Chief Minister K. Hanumanthaiya from 1951 to 1956. The then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharalal Nehru launched work on 13 July, 1951 and it was completed at a cost of Rs. 1.84 crore.
When H.D. Kumarswamy was Chief Minister, he launched work on the Suvarna Soudha at the Vaccine Institute in the heart of the city on 26th August, 2007.
Following strong opposition from environmentalists, the venue was shifted to Halga-Bastwad.
When B.S. Yeddyurappa was Chief Minister, he performed ‘bhoomi pooja' on January 21, 2009.
Now, owing to uncertainties dogging the BJP and the State government, it remains to be seen who will be invited to inaugurate the building.
