Civic chief wants consultants of all projects to reduce their fee to five per cent of total cost
Civic chief wants consultants of all projects to reduce their fee to five per cent of total cost
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Proposals for restoring a number of fountains in the city have been laid down before the administration, and the restoration work is scheduled to commence this year itself.
But the project has hit a roadblock, as the commissioner has asked the consultants of all the projects to reduce their fees.
The proposals have been tabled out for the restoration of two fountains in the city the Flora Fountain
in Fort
A BMC senior official said, on condition of anonymity, "The proposals have been tabled out for the restoration of two fountains in the city.
These are the Flora Fountain in Fort, and the Khada Parsi Fountain in Byculla. But the commissioner is now negotiating prices with the consultants. The projects will only take off once both parties reach a consensus."
MiD DAY had earlier reported on the derelict condition of the fountains in the city owned by the BMC.
"The consultants are currently charging 7.5 per cent of the total project cost.
The commissioner, however, is bargaining to bring it down to 5 per cent of the same. This means that the fountains will have to wait a while before undergoing restoration," said the official.
Did You Know?
The BMC has 24 heritage structural monuments under it, out of which two have been restored: the Gateway of India and the mayor's bungalow. Restoration plans have been made for Crawford Market, BMC headquarters, municipal commissioner's residence, Byculla zoo, KEM hospital and Five Gardens.
Money matters
Other restorations projects that are in a limbo due to fees negotiations
Crawford Market:
Project cost: Rs 10 crore
"Crawford Market restoration will also begin this year, in phases," said Mhaiskar. "Only the structural repair work will be done initially," she said. "But the project work will only begin when consultants lower their fees," said an official.
ENT Hospital:
Project cost: Rs 3 crore
Restoration work at the ENT hospital, which began this year, is in a similar state. "We are worried that the consultants might abandon the project. The hospital building needs immediate restoration," said a BMC official.
The Other Side
When contacted, Manisha Mhaiskar, the additional municipal commissioner, said, "The restoration work of the fountains will begin this financial year itself."
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