New Secretariat plan put on fast pace

Hyderabad: Considering that the next three months are inauspicious, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is likely to lay the foundation stone for the construction of new Secretariat in the existing secretariat premises by June end.

According to sources, the tentative date for the foundation ceremony is

June 27. It is learnt that the state GAD (General Administration Department, Political) has started preparations for the ground-breaking ceremony.

The government will also seek the Cabinet approval for the establishment of new secretariat building in a week.

In a fast-paced development, Chief Secretary SK Joshi held a meeting with Telangana Finance Secretary K Ramaksrihna Rao, who is looking after the division of assets and Prem Chandra Reddy of Andhra Pradesh government, who is looking after the bifurcation issues.

Officials said the shifting of the files and other miscellaneous material from the AP blocks has already started. The process is likely to be completed in the next four days.

Once this process is over, the chambers of ministers and HoDs of various departments will be shifted to the vacant buildings before taking up the construction of the new Secretariat. The ministers and officials will discharge their duties from the temporary offices until the construction work is over.

The TS government, it may be mentioned here, had already prepared the architectural design of the new Secretariat two years ago.

According to the new plan, the proposed new buildings will be hi-tech and there would be abundant greenery and parking space for vehicles. Sources said that the allotted Assembly building and MLA quarters to the AP will also be handed over to Telangana government at the earliest.