'Mantralaya renovation to take time'

The completion of renovation of Mantralaya, which was ravaged by a fire about three months ago, is liked to be delayed. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday said that the makeover of the six-floor structure would take time since the work had to be done in phases

The completion of renovation of Mantralaya, which was ravaged by a fire about three months ago, is liked to be delayed.

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Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday said that the makeover of the six-floor structure would take time since the work had to be done in phases. "The three floors on top that were damaged in the fire will be renovated first. Then the offices on the three lower floors will then be shifted to the renovated floors," said Chavan.

The CM also said that the designs for the renovation were ready. "It will be a modern government headquarters, centrally air-conditioned and with top class fire-fighting facilities. Offices on each floor will be located on one side, leaving open a wide corridor open on the other to facilitate evacuation in case of an emergency," said Chavan.

The government made the main building of Mantralaya operational four days after the June 21 fire, which engulfed the top three floors of the building.

However, the government also had to shift several departments to other locations, both government owned and rented.

About the state paying hefty sums for rented offices, Chavan said that there was no other way to deal with the issue.

"I understand the problem caused owing to offices that are now scattered over many places, but we shall be able to resolve the issue once the building is renovated," he said.