Telangana government to build biggest Secretariat complex

Hyderabad: Telangana government appears to have dropped its proposal to fight for Bison Polo Grounds in Secunderabad to construct the new Secretariat complex.

Instead it is now contemplating building one of the biggest Secretariat complex in the country in the premises of the existing Secretariat complex near Tank Bund. The state government seems to have come to this decision after the AP government handed over four blocks to Telangana.

In the wake of changing political equations post the Lok Sabha elections, the government had reportedly given up the earlier proposal to construct new Secretariat at defence lands in Bison Polo Grounds in Secunderabad.

The TS government has been pleading with the Centre to allot defence lands in 2017 but the Centre did not respond positively.

Since the new government in Andhra Pradesh has been on friendly terms and had instantly agreed to its proposal to hand over the four blocks and ensured that the process was completed by handing over the J,K,L and H H1 and H2 Blocks to Telangana, top officials in the state department said that the government resumed efforts to construct new Secretariat in the existing place.

The Secretariat is spread over 25.5 acres and has built up area of 9.16 lakh square feet. Of this, Andhra Pradesh was allotted 15.21 acres land with a built up area of 5.31 lakh sq ft while Telangana had been allotted 10.29 acres with 3.85 lakh sq.ft built up area.

Of the 10 blocks in the Secretariat complex, four were allotted to Telangana and five to AP. The dilapidated G-block was not allotted to anyone as it is considered as heritage structure.

Officials said that the earlier proposals prepared by state Roads and Buildings in consultation with a private agency are being studied again.

It was proposed to take up construction of office buildings in 4 acres and the remaining area would be used for landscaping and parking.

The government is planning to shift ministers' chambers and the offices of the secretaries and head of the departments (HoDs) of each department into the four blocks handed over by AP government till the other blocks were demolished and new structures come up.

Later the ministers and HoDs will shift to new complex and these four blocks will be demolished and new buildings will be constructed. At present, most of the HoD offices are located outside the Secretariat.