AP CM lays foundation stone for govt offices complex

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday laid the foundation-stone for the government offices complex here, designed by London-based world-renowned architect Foster and Partners.

The AP State Secretariat and HoD Buildings Complex would have four towers of 40 floors each and a fifth tower of 50 floors with a rooftop helipad for the Chief Minister, all in a 41-acre site.

The fifth tower would house the Chief Minister's Office and the General Administration Department.

As per preliminary estimates, the complex would cost at least Rs 5,000 crore with the civil works alone expected to cost Rs 2,200 crore, official sources said.

The government claimed that it would be the "tallest secretariat building in the world" at a height of 225 meters.

The aggregate built-up area of the towers would be 69 lakh sq ft while another 13 lakh sq ft space would be earmarked for vehicular parking.

For the first time in India, the buildings have been designed on the unique structural system called diagrid without the conventional columns, the AP Capital Region Development Authority said.

London-based Buro Happold designed the towers structure, it added.

Besides the various departments of the state Secretariat, the towers would also house the offices of Heads of Departments, with the entire complex designed to accommodate 16,000 employees.

The towers could also accommodate 10,000 visitors daily, the CRDA said.

Shapoorji Pallonji, L&T and Nagarjuna Construction Company have been appointed as contractors to build the complex and the project is targeted to be completed in 36 months.

The complex would have numerous facilities, including health care, fitness centres, sports complex, recreation zone, restaurants, conference halls and auditoriums.