Cash-strapped EDMC seek pvt partnership to build its HQ

Struggling with poor financial condition, the east Delhi civic body is forced to look for private partnership to construct its headquarters in Karkardooma.

An estimate of Rs 380 crore has been prepared for construction of the building. But due to lack of funds, tenders have not been invited, Sanjay Kaushik, chairman of Works Committee of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), said.

“Therefore, a decision has been taken to construct the building with private sector’s cooperation. For this, DDA has been asked to relax some conditions,” he said presenting budget estimates of Works department before EDMC standing committee. EDMC’s current headquarters is in Patparganj. The civic body planned to construct a new building since the present one doesn’t have enough space.

Kaushik also said construction of EDMC’s Shahdar(south) zone building in Karkardooma, estimated to cost around Rs 138 crore, has not started yet, as tenders were cancelled. 

Tenders were issued four times and were cancelled each time due to different reasons. The process for inviting fresh tenders is on, he said. A loan of Rs 76.45 crore has been taken from the NCR Planning Board for this purpose. Of this, Rs 20 crore has been issued to EDMC as first installment, Kaushik said.