DAC in District Courts Complex may not finish in SAD, BJP’s term

Neeraj Bagga

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 27

The SAD-BJP coalition government’s ambitious project of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) and Police Commissionerate Complex (PCC) at the District Courts Complex is unlikely to finish in its current term. Officials associated with the project said the civil work was going on a war footing.

Meanwhile, citizens have to struggle to reach offices of the district administration and police officials as these have been relocated at different places in the city.

These administrative buildings were being raised to facilitate easy access to government offices by the local residents, who otherwise faced a tough time while locating these.

Both complexes are being set up at a cost Rs 78 crore. Of which Rs 14 crore has been invested by the government. Earlier, the demolition of old premises started in November 2012 and the new construction commenced in October 2013. The entire construction work was to be finished within two years, but the government failed to deliver. Construction work was stalled several times due to non-payment of dues to contractors.

It prompted even the district administration to write to the government over the matter.

In the first phase dilapidated offices of the Police Department were demolished. The District Courts Complex was built by the British after they annexed Punjab in 1849. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) office, which was to be preserved as heritage structure, had also witnessed fire break out.

Once completed, the DAC will have various offices under one roof. The DAC will house offices of ADCs, district revenue officer, zila parishad, dairy technology, agriculture office, small savings, transport office, social welfare, panchayati raj , district welfare, district development and panchayati officer, town planning, deputy director (employment), public relations, deputy director (local bodies), excise and taxation, statistical department, Assistant Labour Commissioner, besides an information centre.

It will accommodate a large number of offices and footfall of the public. The DAC will be spread over 3.85 lakh square feet area and have multi-level basements, besides four floors.

The Police Commissionerate Complex spread over 1.5 lakh sqft with a basement and four more storey. The new building will house offices of the Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners of Police and other staff.

New complexes are expected to ensure efficient administration of the holy city. Already, Moga and Faridkot, considered to be situated in the backwater of the state, have modern multi-storey administrative complexes.

A need for setting up of the administrative and police complexes has been felt for a long, so as to deliver efficient and quick service to the people.

The district court complex was constructed in the later half of the 19th century. It is remembered for carrying out the first land survey record in 1868-69. Urban planning architecture Mandeep Singh said the building falls under the category of Colonial architecture. The roof is known as jack arch roof. That was a traditional roof supporting system of that time.