One of the oldest buildings on the upscale Marine Drive area, the state government’s printing press, is likely to be renovated to make room for a huge Udyog Bhavan as well. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s (MIDC) chief executive officer, P. Velarasu, stated that the BMC had granted the necessary approvals and that MIDC’s plan had been accepted.
One of the oldest government buildings on Marine Drive is the printing press, which was founded in 1855. The state cabinet’s agenda, state legislature papers, government reports, white papers, and even private documents are among the many significant state documents produced here. The press used to publish a variety of Mumbai University exam question papers.
The government’s Industries department owns the property where the press is located. The Udyog Bhavan is being built to give IAS officers who interact with foreign delegations and industrialists on a daily basis more room and a more luxurious atmosphere.
For example, the industries secretary’s office is in the Mantralaya annexe, whereas the development commissioner’s office, which is in charge of attracting investments, is currently located in the new administrative building across from Mantralaya. Since both are seen as run-down, the state guesthouse Sahyadri is frequently used for meetings with corporate czars and captains of industry.
There will be more opulent offices and meeting spaces in the new structure. Office space will also be provided here for MIDC and the industries department. According to MIDC estimates, the entire complex—which the state government has already christened the Ratan Tata Udyog Bhavan—will cost ₹800 crore.
The printing press currently consists of two buildings: a ground-plus-two building and a ground-plus-four building. These will be demolished, and the new complex will consist of two wings: A wing, which will have a building that is ground plus four stories, and B wing, which will have a building that is ground plus six stories.
The project will be finished in three years, MIDC chief engineer Prakash Chavan stated. “We have enough FSI, but there are height restrictions, as the area falls in the Marine Drive precinct,” he added. MIDC will build 46,918 square meters and provide the printing press with 29,254 square meters.
Source: Hindustan Times
