Kolkata Meghalaya House
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The inauguration of the Meghalaya House at Kolkata is likely to be delayed as the State Government is yet to clear the dues of the contractor, who was assigned the job.
Informing this, the GAD Minister AL Hek on Tuesday said the construction work had almost been completed.
Earlier the State Government had planned to inaugurate the Kolkata house by the end of this year.
“An amount of more than Rs 24 crore is yet to be paid to the contractor,” Hek said.
Initially the estimated cost of the project was Rs 24 crore, but it has now gone up to Rs 50 crore.
The GAD has, meanwhile, asked the PWD to justify the escalation of the cost and the matter is presently lying with the State Planning Board.
“Once the Finance Department clears the bill, the contractor would hand over the building to the government,” Hek said.
The new building will have three blocks which include residential, VIP and commercial establishments and it is estimated that the Government will earn Rs 25 lakh per month by renting out the commercial block.
According to Hek, the Meghalaya House at New Delhi is on the verge of completion.
The State Government has sought an NOC from the Delhi Development Authority for construction of the approach road, the Minister said.
Reacting to a query on the need to construct state guest houses in the State capital, the Minister said, “The State guest house is presently occupied by Deputy Chief Minister BM Lanong”.
