By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The General Administration Department (GAD) has said its convention centre at Bishop Cotton Road in the city is likely to become functional within the next six months.
Reacting to a report appeared in The Shillong Times, a GAD official on Wednesday said the Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation Limited (MGCCL), which had awarded the project to a city-based firm M/S Dhar Brothers Construction Co. Pvt Ltd, has told us that the convention centre would be commissioned within next six months.”
On reasons for the delay, the official said the revised estimates took some time to get sanctioned and this actually led to the delay.
Besides this, additional components and the staff quarters of the Hotel Pinewood were also added to the project.
“The addition of staff quarters of the Hotel Pinewood also escalated the cost,” the official said.
It may be mentioned that the convention centre is partly funded by the Union Government under ACA (Additional Central Assistance) and partly by the State Government.
The tendered cost of the project at the time of award was Rs15,47,00,000 with an earnest money deposit of Rs30,94,000, but with the delay in the completion of the project, the construction cost has escalated to Rs 23,21,23,000.
When contacted, the MD of the MGCCL K Passah said, “The building will be completed in six months time.”