Status of City Convention Centre : Inaugurated with fanfare but far from ready
Major portions yet to be completed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 23 2012:
Though the City Convention Centre was inaugurated on December 3 last year by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in a grand function, the actual work on the project is far from being completed.
Foundation stone for the centre was laid by the Prime Minister in November 2004 .
When Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh inaugurated the centre last year in the presence of UPA Chaiperson Sonia Gandhi, it was quite an impressive structure.
But now it has turned out that the City Convention Centre was inaugurated when major portions of the building were yet to be finished.
Construction work of the City Convention Centre was taken up at the estimated cost of Rs 53.89 crores sanctioned under Special Plan Assistance.
The estimated cost has grown by Rs 21 crores following the addition of two escalators in the project plan in addition to equipping the main auditorium with tables and chairs.
So far, two escalators and two lifts have become functional, informed a PWD official.
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The work of putting ceiling in the main auditorium remains incomplete for a big portion.
It is unlikely that tables and chairs would be laid in the gallery any time soon.
Electric fitting is yet to be completed in all the halls even though installation of air coolers is under progress.
Sounds systems are yet to be installed in the main auditorium, audio-visual hall, conference hall, multipurpose hall as well as the VIP hall.
Though additional manpower were engaged in the construction work before the Assembly elections, a much smaller labour force could be seen working on the project.
Only three/four labourers could be seen working on the ceiling component of the main auditorium.
Talking to The Sangai Express, one official of Simplex company, which is the work agency of City Convention Centre, confided that he cannot say when the CVC would be fully completed.
Finishing works would take a long time.
Though most of the major works have been completed, but time-consuming minor works have not been initiated yet, said the official.
Meanwhile, one PWD official disclosed that most of the bills for construction of the City Convention Centre have been already released.
However, the additional amount of Rs 21 crores for the extra components added later has not been released, he added.