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Vidhana Soudha to get a new sheen to 'impress' visitors

PWD has taken up Rs 20-cr renovation work at the iconic structure
Last Updated 24 August 2017, 18:36 IST

In a bid to “impress” foreign delegates who visit the Vidhana Soudha, the state government has taken up modernisation and renovation works on the 60-year-old iconic building at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

As part of the project, the Public Works Department (PWD) wants to strip off mosaic tiles on the existing staircases and replace them with granite. Reason - the shade and colour of the mosaic tiles are “outdated”. Conceding that there was nothing wrong with any of the staircases, officials contended that granite slabs are not only long lasting but also would o give a shiny and lustrous look.

The department wants to do away with red-oxide flooring found in some of the offices and replace them with vitrified tiles. The argument is that “outsiders” should not frown upon the lack of uniformity. There is also a proposal to replace mosaic tiles on the corridors on all the floors. The PWD, which had been pushing forth the project for the last three years, has finally been given a go ahead by the government.

While the tenders were approved on November 11, 2016, work order was issued on January 11, 2017. While around four bidders participated in the tender process, the project was awarded to Bengaluru-based firm - S R Ravi Constructions. As much as 62% of the proposed works have been taken up in the last one week after the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) gave its approval for the project on June 7, 2017. The contractor has been asked to complete the works within 15 months.

To begin with, the PWD has taken up modernisation of toilets on the northern side of the four-storeyed building. There are 12 toilets (six ladies and six gents) in the building. Officials said that they will be replacing all the water supply and sanitary lines, as the existing cast iron and galvanised iron (GI) pipes have corroded, resulting in leaks. While the water supply pipes will be replaced with CPVC pipes, the sewage pipes will be replaced with PVC pipes. In addition to this, the toilets will be redesigned and fitted with modern accessories.

PWD engineers also said that as the asbestos sheets atop the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council halls were damaged, they would be replaced with ‘galvalume’ sheets (coloured roof sheets).

As the teak wood doors and windows in all the rooms have lost their “lustre”, they will get a coat of ‘melamine’ polish for a glossy new look. In addition to this, the entire building will get a fresh coat of painting.

One of the chief characteristics of the Vidhana Soudha are its domes. There is one large dome and six smaller ones. Engineers said that the cement mortar on all the domes have deteriorated, leading to cracks and leakages. The surface of these domes will be fixed using epoxy grout, they said.

Terming some of the works taken up as “unnecessary”, former chief minister and leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar said the PWD had made it a habit to escalate costs for “kickbacks”.

“The original characteristic of the Vidhana Soudha is its grandeur. It’s unfortunate that it is being meddled with. There is no need for granite staircases or some of the other works proposed. Only those maintenance works that are inevitable should be taken up. As the PWD engineers are forced to listen to ministers or other leaders at the helm, the government should take the opinion of non-government engineers,” Shettar added.

DH News Service

 

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(Published 23 August 2017, 21:17 IST)

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