Kishore Avarsekar, chairman managing director of Unity Infraprojects Limited (UIL), the contractor, informed dna that the high power committee had sanctioned installation of state-of-the-art IBMS, but there was no written communication to UIL from the government.
After spending almost Rs150 crore in renovating it, finishing touches on the Mantralaya have finally been complete. However, the building is still not equipped with state-of-the-art integrated building management system (IBMS), which can come in use during emergencies. If the word of the contractor is to be believed, the system could not be installed due to the inaction on the part of the previous government.
Kishore Avarsekar, chairman managing director of Unity Infraprojects Limited (UIL), the contractor, informed dna that the high power committee had sanctioned installation of state-of-the-art IBMS, but there was no written communication to UIL from the government.
"We had to execute the building management systems which were based on the smart systems, but all the types of software is not integrated. Instead, the fire control or CCTV system would be independently operated through software," he said.
It was in December 24, 2012 that the Mantralaya makeover project started; after repeat delay, the work was completed only last week. Avarsekar informed that the delay was due primarily because of the government dilly-dallying in their decision, coupled with last minute changes at various levels.
The renovation was undertaken in June 2012, when the top four floors of the building caught fire, killing three people and injuring 15. Thousands of sensitive documents, computer files including the crucial Adarsh society scam files were destroyed.
The renovation work involved an area of over 4 lakh sq ft and an additional seventh floor of 25,000 sq ft, which resulted in extending all the lift shafts till the seventh floor.
Avarsekar assured that while the present firefighting system is integrated, all other systems, including CCTV, are not. The glass space framework of the new building is bullet-proof; the interior finishing has plaster, gypsum, paint, flooring and false ceiling work, wooden flooring and wooden/fabric panelling along with exterior finishes (aluminum windows and aluminum composite panels); and the entire building will have a centralised air conditioning system.
The contract did not include painting of the renovated building and if it starts raining, there is possibility of leakages developing, informed Avarsekar. He said that his firm completed the task last week, and barring minor details like removing a few small items, everything was over.
He added that UIL had completed the work within 18 months, with all the offices functioning in the building, which has happened for the first time in Maharashtra.
Contractor criticised for no reason?
Avarsekar informed that during the renovation work, his company received criticism time and again for no fault of theirs. He said: "This is why during my meeting with secretary Anand Kulkarni (who is taking decisions at a faster pace), I made it clear that our company is not interested in taking up any job related to Mantralaya. They can install state-of-the-art IBMS that involves all imported items, but we are not willing to do it."
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