Final touches being given to new GHMC office

Falaknuma: With finishing touches like painting and some aesthetics being given, the GHMC Charminar zonal office is all set start its full-fledged operations from the new office located at Narqui Phool Bagh in Chandrayangutta. The final finishing works of the 5-floor building are expected to be over by this year end. Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 17.8 crore, the new office will be on a par with any state-of-art facility, showcasing aesthetics.

Earlier, the GHMC zonal office was running from the old building, Sardar Mahal, near Charminar till a few days ago, was recently shifted to new premises even as the construction was in progress.

According to officials, the construction of new building which is at close proximity to Falaknuma palace and other historic buildings, would be completed by December.

Speaking to The Hans India newly appointed Zonal Commissioner N Samrat Ashok, said that it has been almost a month since the entire office was shifted to the new building. The GHMC Engineering wing, Electrical wing, Town planning department, AMOH wing and Sanitation etc. in Chandrayangutta and Falaknuma circles under the Charminar zone have also been shifted.

"The flow of the public has increased compared to that of the old zonal office. While the building has a major parking space in cellar with 11,905.27 sq ft and stilt floor with 10,129.17 sqft and with visitors lounge in each floor, the entire departments come under one roof," said an official.

The building is constructed with a cellar, stilt floor, and 5 Floors with a total built up area of 50,645.85 Sqft at an estimated construction amount of Rs 17.8 crore.

Since the office has been shifted to the new location, they feel much easier to visit it. "The old office was near Charminar and it did not have parking space and seating arrangements. It was congested and visitors had a tough ride coming by public transport. Now it is very close to the main road and bus stop", felt Shaik Mateen, a resident of Moghalpura.

He also said that he lives in Moghalpura, which is close to Charminar. But despite a distance of 3 km from new office, it is away from hustle-bustle of Charminar area.

Uppuguda division Corporator Fahad Bin Samad Abdat described this as the part of vision for the development in Old City area. "For providing easier accessibility to GHMC office for the residents, AIMIM floor leader and MLA Chandrayangutta Akbaruddin Owaisi gave regular representations and raised the issue in Assembly. The idea transformed and now the building is also started functioning as Zonal office," he added.