Extending further the deadline set by B. Ramanath Rai, Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, for completing the renovation of the Town Hall, Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred said here on Friday that the works would be over by November-end.
Earlier, the Minister had set August and later October as deadlines, for the works that was taken up in October last year. The civic body had taken up the renovation as the Town Hall completed its golden jubilee in December 2014.
Addressing presspersons, the Mayor said Nirmiti Kendra had resumed the work assigned to it to the tune of Rs. 99.75 lakh. It included granite flooring of the hall, green and VIP rooms, and some interior works. The other works to the tune of Rs. 2.55 crore would be taken up in four different packages.
She said three bids had been received for package I works, costing Rs. 98 lakh, relating to sound and lighting, false ceiling and acoustic panelling. The bids were received on July 21, the last date for applying. Now, they were under scrutiny. Ms. Alfred said two bidders had applied for package II works of fixing seats in the hall at an estimated cost of Rs. 60 lakh. They were also under scrutiny.
The Mayor said bids for package III and package IV works would be opened on July 24 evening. It included fixing air-conditioners at a cost of Rs. 48 lakh and laying new cables to the Town Hall building and fixing generators at a cost of Rs. 49 lakh. To a question, the Mayor said there were no other reasons for delaying the works this time as four works would be allocated to different bidders separately.
The Town Hall would be ready by November-end, she said. The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party had disrupted the monthly meeting of the council last month to force the ruling Congress to complete the renovation works at the earliest.
