Varanasi: The groundbreaking ceremony for the multi-storey Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) building was performed on Wednesday, marking the start of construction. The building, with a budget of Rs 96.99 crore, is expected to be completed in 18 months.
Project Details
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the building on April 28. The proposed shivling-shaped structure will also house the VMC's elected local body.
After performing the rituals, Mayor Ashok Tiwari stated that the construction of the state-of-the-art VMC building has been initiated by C&S, the executing agency. He emphasized that the building will not only serve as an administrative center but also symbolize Kashi's cultural significance.
Design and Features
The main attraction of this G+4 (four-storey) building, covering an area of 22,000 square metres, is its design in the shape of a shivling, developed on the theme of Ganga and Kashi. It will include separate chambers for the mayor and councillors, an administrative wing, and dedicated sections for animal husbandry, engineering, and licence departments.
A world-class control room will be set up in the building, enabling monitoring of activities across the entire city and swift information exchange. The campus will also feature underground parking, lifts, a canteen, bank, post office, police chowki, and a record room.
Future Expansion
Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal said that during the first phase, construction of the ground floor plus three storeys (G+4) has been proposed. Keeping future requirements in view, the foundation has been laid for G+7 (seven floors), allowing for additional floors as needed.
Modern Technologies
The project, spread over 70,000 square feet, incorporates modern technologies such as a data server centre, PR centre, CCTV security, and rainwater harvesting.
Background
After the construction of the Rudraksh Convention Centre, the VMC house was operating from a makeshift arrangement at the Town Hall, causing considerable inconvenience to officials and corporators. The new building will feature a large house with 300 seats and a conference hall.
