Helipads, health club at new-age govt skyscraper

Civic Centre will wear swank, corporate look

Helipads, health club at new-age govt skyscraper

Civic Centre will wear swank, corporate look

A swanky health club, indoor games facilities, food courts, an auditorium and even a helipad this office will have the best of corporate glitz. The only catch is that this premium workplace is being done up for the babus of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

However, the organisation's heads are hoping that when the civic body shifts from the colonial Town Hall to the 28-storeyed Civic Centre in central Delhi, the babus will be inspired to get into the corporate groove. "The Civic Centre will mark a new beginning for the MCD.

We expect more accountability and transparent working from all MCD employees. The semi-corporate ambience of the new office will make us more efficient," said Chairman, MCD Standing Committee, Vijender Gupta.

A senior MCD official said that the high-level committee formed to finalise the interiors of the Civic Centre recommended that the new building should have a neat, modular look. Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra, Vijender Gupta and a number of senior Delhi government officials were a part of the committee.

"The committee studied the interiors of a number of famous buildings and also visited many corporate offices in Mumbai before finalising the look," said the MCD official, requesting anonymity.

Almost half the building, the tallest in the city, will be rented out. The MCD headquarter will occupy the remaining area. The building will also have landing facility for two helicopters, a first in the city.

"The Civic Centre will be centrally air-conditioned and the system will be automatic. If a room is not occupied, the air-conditioner will switch itself off. The same will happen with the lights," the official added.

Chic civic sense
Height of the new building: 110 metres
Cost of the project: Rs 600 crore
Total area: 12 lakh square metres
Underground parking for 2,500 cars
Slated to start functioning in the next few months