By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 30: It was initially conceived to cost Rs 145 crore and the contract was awarded to Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Limited which had quoted Rs 127 crore, an astonishing Rs 18 crore less than the project estimate. Then the estimate was revised to Rs 177.7 crore and now it is Rs 200 crore and counting.
The jinxed Meghalaya Legislative Assembly complex in New Shillong Township is in the eye of yet another storm with the total estimate for the project rising by the day and with no completion date in sight.
Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Wednesday said the under-construction building will now be completed at a total cost of Rs 200 crore.
He was quick to justify the cost escalation. It is due to the increase in the structural area as the floor area is now bigger, he told reporters.
On the status of the project, the Speaker said there was progress although some unavoidable technical issues have cropped up. However, the clearing of the debris caused by the collapse of the dome on May 22 last year and the approval of the new dome design have been completed.
“Now, the work has started and we are hopeful that the Assembly building will be completed within a year’s time,” he said while adding “Because of all those incidents that had happened…because of hasty decisions, I don’t want to take any more risk. Therefore, within a year, we should be able to complete it.”
“The construction of the new dome has also started, it is slightly modified and lighter unlike the earlier design which weighed around 3,000 metric tons,” the Speaker added.