From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jun 10: Increase in the construction costs and the built up area resulted in the overall expenditure of the construction of the Suvarna Soudha building in Belgaum from the originally estimated Rs 230 crore to Rs 370 crore, explained Karnataka’s Public Works Minister C M Udasi denying allegations of any irregularities in the cost escalation.

He strongly defended the increased expenditure on the project from the originally estimated Rs 230crore to Rs 370 crore due to increase in building area and other works as also the sharp rise in cost of cement, steel and other materials.

The Minister explained that that tender for the project was called with an estimated cost for Rs 250.65 crore in 2009 but later revised to Rs 350 crore in the backdrop of constructed area going up from 12,617 sq.meters to 16,138 sq.meters, an increase of 3,520 sq meters.

The cost is expected to touch Rs. 370 when the building is to be inaugurated in September, he said.

The revised cost was approved by the former Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao in 2009 itself as there was a proposal to build a Central Hall in the complex on the model of Parliament, he said.

With the interior works and development of road, drinking water supply and electricity needs to be taken up, he said the cost of the building could touch Rs. 370 crore,

A sum of Rs. 27 crore would be spent on interiors and acoustics to central hall, council and cabinet halls, ministers’ chambers and secretariat cubicals, Rs 2 crore on land scaping, Rs. 7.50 crore on water supply from Belguam city to Suvarna Soudha, Rs. 23.50 crore on construction of compound hall along the land boundary (3.5 kms) and electrical works such as setting up of transformers, centralized AC and audio conference and CCTVs.

The Minister said the PWD would develop 15,000 kms of state highway with an expenditure of Rs 13,363 crore in the next two years.

The state has 20,000 kms of state highways and with 15,000 kms of roads under renovation and upgradation, he said the government has ensured development of roads across the state.