Rural development dept comes to Mohali

Spread over 3.268 acres of prime land adjoining the PUDA Bhawan and opposite the Fortis Hospital,the double-storey building has been divided into two blocks. While one block would house the offices of department,State Rural Development Institution would work in the second block,disclosed a senior official here today.

The Rs 37-crore joint venture project of Centre and Punjab on equal finance-sharing basis also houses a VVIP guest house with two VVIP suites and three VIP rooms having attached drawing and dining facilities built over 6,877 square yards covered area.

While Rs 12 crore has already been spent,Rs 15 crore is yet to be spent on the remaining construction work. So far,the Centre had released funds of Rs 6.72 crore while Rs 6.7 crore has been sanctioned by the state government.

Of the total 21,4762 square yards to be covered area,11,3863 square yards area has already been constructed while the work is on to complete the remaining construction expeditiously.

A basement covering 1,940 square yards area provides parking space for 150 vehicles and two record rooms. The ground floor built over 18,710 square yards would have two court rooms,all public dealing branches,RTI branch,election wing,general administration,legal,grievances removal,land development,ETT and reception blocks while the offices of the rural development minister,administrative secretary,director,deputy director,other senior officials and air-conditioned conference hall with sitting capacity for 100 persons would be located on the first floor.

The second floor covering 14,648 square yards area would provide office space to department’s under secretary and other branches left out to be housed on the ground floor.

The institution’s block would have exhibition hall over 9,789 square yards area in the basement while ground floor built on 8,980 square yards area would house institution’s directorate office,videoconferencing hall,faculty and reception blocks. The first floor on 8096 square yards covered area would have library,conference-cum-classroom,videoconferencing hall and rooms for instructors while another conference-cum-classroom,computer room and rooms for research associates would be built on second floor.

While the state headquarters of Forest Department and Punjab Police’s first Cyber Crime Station and Forensic Science Laboratory are nearing completion here,Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority,Punjab School Education Board and Punjab Health Systems Corporation are already running their state headquarters in Mohali.