Statescan
No rented office
Orissa Government as part of its austerity measure has decided not to run any Government office in rented accommodation in the capital city. Informing this, State Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai said the Government decision will be strictly implemented from next fiscal year.
As per Government arrangement Toshali Plaza Mansion, a multi storied building with more than two lakh sq.ft. space constructed by the State Housing Board will be used for the purpose. Toshali Plaza in the heart of the city, apart from space to accommodate offices has enough parking space.
The government has already taken-over the building from the Orissa State Housing Board to provide accommodation to the offices shifted from the private rented buildings.
It may be noted that the Toshali Plaza Mansion has already been handed over by the Orissa State Housing Board to the general administration department. B-2 block of the mansion with a carpet area of 21,964 sq ft has been earmarked to accommodate offices shifted from rented buildings.
A sum of Rs 2.18 crore has been sanctioned by the State government to undertake repair and renovation of the building. Construction of Tohsili Plaza building was taken up in 1991, spread over an area of 5.05 acre and with a built-up area of 3.19 lakh sq.ft. at a cost of Rs 15.65 crore.
As per an estimate, the State government pays around rupees eight crore per annum towards house rents for the offices functioning in private rented buildings in Bhubaneswar, whereas the entire Toshali Plaza Mansion with more than two lakh sq.ft. office space is lying unoccupied for years.
Despite notification to shift all the offices functioning in private rented buildings in Bhubaneswar to Toshali Plaza Mansion it has been defied by most of the departments and government agencies.
This has apparently prompted the State finance department to inform that rent of private accommodation to Government offices would be stopped, if they do not shift soon.
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