The Hindu : Modern police control room project yet to be completed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Modern police control room project yet to be completed

By P. Oppili

CHENNAI JUNE 14. More than three years after works were started on the ambitious modern police control room project at the Commissionerate complex in Egmore, only the building construction has been completed so far.

Various factors, including the problem in the pile foundation and re-designing of the building, contributed to the delay, according to police sources. Right from the day when the pile foundation work was started, experts suggested that the basement needed to be deepened further. It led to the re-designing of the building itself, further delaying the project.

The initial proposal was to construct the building at a cost of Rs. 1 crore and instal equipment at a cost of Rs. 2 crores. But the scheme suffered cost escalation due to the structural changes effected in basement as well as the building, the sources said. Also, these changes had to be approved by officials from time to time, which further affected the progress of the work. The work came to a standstill during last year, but was completed in the last three months.

A similar delay was experienced in the case of installation of various equipment, including the wireless communication system. The work was entrusted to the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu. When the officials specified their requirements as well as the gadgets too, the ELCOT was said to have suggested improvised state-of-the-art versions. Stating that the department had given its concurrence to the proposal, the sources said that now specially imported equipment would be installed.

When contacted, a senior officer said the building was "almost ready for occupation". At present, the authorities were planning to send the work details for the approval of the Home Secretary, the head of the department. By mid-July the new improvised communication system would be installed at the place and would be operated on a trial basis for a month. Going by the current pace of progress, the control room would be fully operational by August 15, the authorities hoped.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Corporation tax collection yet to go online

Modern police control room project yet to be completed

Aptech tie-up with varsity for B.Sc course

Eqiupment donated to Jeevan Blood bank

`Foster school'

Medical courses merit list on June 18

Corporation driver among two arrested