Rs 217 crore incurred on Swarnim Sankul buildings

The Gujarat government has incurred Rs 217.05 crore to construct and set up the Swarnim Sankul-I and Swarnim Sankul-II buildings inside the new secretariat complex in Gandhinagar. The two buildings were designed and constructed on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the state’s foundation. It houses the Chief Minister’s Office and offices of the Cabinet ministers, state ministers and their office staff, along with the administrative staff of the buildings.

The cost for constructing and setting up of the two buildings was declared by the state government while answering a starred question in the Assembly on Wednesday. Congress MLA from Danilimda constituency of Ahmedabad, Shailesh Parmar, had asked the details of expenditure incurred on the two buildings, along with its bifurcation.

As per the government’s reply, they have spent Rs 140.03 crore on the construction of the buildings. The cost of furniture has come to Rs 40.96 crore. The government has spent Rs 24.24 crore to install an air-conditioner plant. It has also spent Rs 11.82 crore on other expenses not specified in the answer to the Assembly.

The two buildings, constructed on either side of the Assembly Building, were built during the tenure of Narendra Modi as the Gujarat Chief Minister. Swarnim Sankul-I houses the CMO and offices of Cabinet Ministers and their office staff whereas, Swarnim Sankul-II houses the state ministers and their office staff. The two buildings were designed by famous Ahmedabad-based architect Bimal Patel.