By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The much delayed convention centre of General Administration Department (GAD) at Bishop Cotton Road is finally nearing completion and is more or less ready for inauguration.
Sources on Saturday said that the project, which has been running behind schedule, is ninety percent complete after the project was given a six-month extension in April this year following the revised estimates.
Presently, the building is waiting for the escalators which are to be installed otherwise all the major works for the project is almost completed.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Government Construction Corporation Limited (MGCCL), has awarded the project to a city-based firm M/S Dhar Brothers Construction Co. Pvt Ltd.
“We have neared the completion of the work and we will hand it over to the tourism department very shortly,” sources said.
Earlier, the alignment of the small approach road had to be changed besides Additional components and the staff quarters of the Hotel Pinewood were also added to the project which further added to the delay and escalation of cost.
Sources also informed that the project once completed will be handed over to the tourism department.
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.
The Convention Centre would be equipped to facilitate the holding of meeting, interactions, conferences and entertainment programmes at the centre conveniently.