Dist office yet to shift to new complex

Nine months have elapsed since the inauguration of the new district office complex but the district-level offices are yet to shift to it. The district administration had planned to shift the offices soon after Dasara.

The new complex, constructed on German Press premises, off Mysuru-Bannur Road in the city, was inaugurated on March 10, by then chief minister Siddaramaiah. The officials had planned to move to the new building soon after the inauguration. But, due to the Assembly election and transfer of three deputy commissioners there has been a delay, an officer said.

The new building, constructed on 4.25 acres of land, has a built-up area of 22,000 sq ft. The first phase of works was taken up at a cost of Rs 59 crore. The PWD has sent a proposal for Rs 38 crore to take up works under the second phase.

PWD officials claimed that the construction works on the structure have been completed in June itself and 11 offices can be shifted any time. “We have already written to the district administration, stating that the building is ready to be occupied,” said an official. The District Treasury Office is likely to be shifted within a few days. The new building has two auditoriums and two meeting halls. While two departments can be housed on the ground floor, the office of the Deputy Commissioner and the DC’s Court will be on the first floor. Similarly, eight department offices will be housed on the second floor. The new structure has separate toilets for men and women and a ramp for physically-challenged people.

Pune-based Shirke Construction, which constructed the Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru and Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, has built the new structure. The works commenced in December 2016 and has been completed in 14 months.

The existing DC office was constructed by the maharajas in 1895. The building inside Gordon Park took eight years to build when Chamaraja Wadiyar X was the king. It was dedicated to Sir James Gordon, the last chief commissioner of the erstwhile Mysore. The foundation stone was laid on June 20,1887, and was formally opened in 1895. The government decided to construct the new complex, owing to a space constraint.