NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Under the final phase of Central Vista revamp project, 10 office complexes comprising the Central Secretariat will have connectivity to the existing Delhi Metro network after they are built.
According to an official of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the company that will win the tender for the development will only construct an underground tunnel for this purpose.
The architectural consultant of the Central Vista project, the 10 office complexes of the Central Secretariat will emerge on the two parallel horizontal axes of the Rajpath. Designed along the lines of transit-oriented development (TOD), each complex will be interconnected through a loop and to the existing Delhi Metro lines (Yellow and Violet Lines), as per the design created by HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd.
During a presentation last year by Dr. Bimal Patel, head of HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd, “At the underground level, a people mover and an underground loop will connect to the Metro station. You get off the Metro and get inside the people-mover. It will go around in circles of the Secretariat and will be connected to the Metro. Such people-movers are seen in various international airports.”
A tender was floated in April, 2021 by CPWD for the first three secretariat office complexes which will emerge in front of the National Archives, where the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is situated and pre bid meetings with various firms also held in April end.
A total of seven firms participated in the pre bid meetings, they were Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Private Limited, MEP, L&T, JMC Projects (India) Ltd, Girdhari Lal Constructions Pvt Ltd, Montecarlo Ltd, and PSP Projects. The final date for submission of EOI (Expression of Interests) is June 15, 2021 and technical bids will open on May 25.
As per the notice inviting tender by CPWD, “ The work is estimated to cost (composite) Rs 34,08,81,22,602 (Civil & Horticulture component: Rs 21,12,09,34,804; Electrical & Mechanical component: Rs 11,57,18,41,562; Rs 1,39,53,46,236 for operation & maintenance for 5 years). This estimate, however, is given merely as a rough guide.”
The finalised plans for the three complexes show they would have two basement parking levels.
As per CPWD official,” The construction of the TOD will take time as the underground Metro network can be connected only when all Secretariat buildings are completed. This will be taken up in the last phase. Meanwhile, part of the underground tunnel for the Metro falling within the plot for buildings 1, 2 & 3 will be completed to avoid disruption at a later stage as these will be in use by then.”
