The 265 feet tall, six-storey administrative powerhouse with a one-millon sq. feet built up area is touted as an architectural wonder
IndiGlobal Bureau
Telangana’s new Secretariat was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday. KCR, who stepped inside the premises of the new Secretariat named “Dr. BR Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat” at 1.20 pm, entered his chamber located on the sixth floor of the majestic building at an auspicious muhurat (1.31 pm) amidst chants and prayers by priests.
Ministers in KCR’s cabinet and Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari also took charge in their new chambers after performing customary prayers. KCR signed six files relating to Dalit Bandhu benefit to 1100 beneficiaries in the State, distribution of Podu lands, CMRF fund beneficiaries, KCR Nutrition Kits, regularization of contract employees, and the sixth one relating to the Palamuru Lift Irrigation scheme.
Later, Rao addressed a meeting inside the Secretariat complex attended by ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs of the ruling party, bureaucrats, district collectors and SPs, Secretariat staff among others. Calling the brand new majestic building the pride of Telangana, K Chandrashekhar Rao said the State achieved an overwhelming development on all fronts in just 9 years after the formation of the State.
He thanked AIS officers, and government employees for their commitment and key role in the State’s progress so far, apart from especially thanking the construction firm Shapoorji Pallonji, renowned architects Dr. Oscar G. Concessao and Dr. Ponni M. Concessao who designed the structure, R & B engineers and even the migrant workers and laborers who were involved in building the new Secretariat with an estimated budget of Rs 660 crore in just 28 months time.
Located on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake, the new Secretariat, spread over 28 acres of land, is 265 feet in height with six floors and a total built-up area of nearly 1 million sq. feet. The Secretariat is equipped with 635 rooms having state-of-the-art facilities and advanced technologies and boasts sprawling conference halls on each floor, sky lounges, fountains, helipad, command control center, media center, post office, bank and ATMs, food courts and canteens, creche, fire station, temple, mosque, church, watch tower and ample vehicle parking spaces.
It is also certified as the first Green Building Secretariat in the country. Invoking Kakatiya legacy, building elevations have been enriched with ornamental domes ( 34 in all of different sizes), two massive Ashoka emblems installed on two main domes, carvings, Dholpur Stone Masonry, presenting an aesthetic look to the complex. As one takes the main entrance of the Secretariat, a massive four-shutter door- 27 feet high, 29 feet wide, and 3.5 inches thick (being called the Bahubali gate for its sheer size) greets visitors inside the complex.
The wood logs were sourced from Adilabad and Balarshah. The majestic white building is set to become a must-see landmark for tourists and visitors coming to the State of Telangana from hereon.