Shillong: The controversial Meghalaya House in Russel Street Kolkata has coughed up more than double the previous estimated amount so far.
An additional Rs 26 crore was poured in while the State Government has already spent Rs 24 crore for construction of the Meghalaya House, the new GAD Minister AL Hek, who recently went to Kolkata to inspect the long-pending construction work, said on Thursday.
The construction work is nearly complete, the minister, however, said adding that PWD (Building) would have to justify the escalated amount.
Hek, who himself is a contractor of the project, said the cost escalation was due to the multiple changes in the design of the building as per the choice of respective GAD ministers which ultimately led to several extensions to the five-year-old project.
Meanwhile, the Government still has to pay around Rs 6 crore to contractors of the Asian Hosing Corporation Limited, the main construction firm assigned with the task.
“If the remaining payment is made to the contractors we will ensure that the Meghalaya House is inaugurated in this year only,” Hek said.