UT allots tender for construction of verandah outside CJ's court

Time of India

12 hours ago

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Chandigarh: After completing technical and financial evaluations of tenders received, the UT engineering department finally allotted a tender for construction of a verandah outside court room number 1 (Chief Justice Court) of the Punjab and Haryana high court.
The work was allotted for approximately Rs 9 lakh against the tender amount of around Rs 13.50 lakh.
As per terms and conditions, the successful bidder will have to complete work in two months from the date of allotment of the tender. The bidder will have to comply with the work criteria mentioned in the tender document, keeping all clauses in mind.
"Since the area of Punjab and Haryana high court falls under the Capitol Complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site, senior engineering officers are monitoring the work to ensure that it goes according to plan.
A member of the sub-committee of the UT's Chandigarh Heritage Committee (CHC) also visited the site last week," sources said.
The new verandah is to be constructed outside court room number 1, like the verandahs from court room numbers 2 to 9 in the high court. "All dimensions are given approximately and must be verified on-site before execution of the work. The proposed verandah will be constructed as per the existing one in front of court numbers 2 to 9 in terms of design, specification, and structural feasibility.
All electrical services shall follow the same pattern as in front of the existing court numbers 2 to 9," the engineering department has been instructed.
Sources in the Chandigarh administration revealed that to construct the new verandah outside court room number 1, around 22 iron poles will be installed and covered with RCC battens. This will minimise the need for any major construction work with the existing building.
The matter was already discussed in the heritage committee of the UT administration.
In May, the Supreme Court upheld a Punjab and Haryana high court order directing the Chandigarh administration to construct a verandah (covered walkway) outside the Chief Justice's court in the Punjab and Haryana High Court building. The Supreme Court's decision came after the Chandigarh administration appealed the high court order, raising concerns about potential violations of Unesco guidelines.
Box: Heritage panels' nod
Both the Chandigarh Heritage Committee (CHC) and a sub-group of the heritage committee approved the project. The Chandigarh administration also sent the matter to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to recommend the case for consideration and approval by the World Heritage Committee. "The ASI is the nodal agency to communicate and deliberate with the World Heritage Committee for such matters, as the Chandigarh administration cannot directly approach the World Heritage Committee," sources in the UT said.
Highlights of new structure
Tender allotted: UT engineering department has awarded the tender for constructing a verandah outside Court Room No. 1 (Chief Justice's Court)
Cost: ₹9 lakh (against the original tender estimate of ₹13.5 lakh)
Timeline: Work to be completed within 2 months from the date of allotment
Design & Specifications:
Verandah will match the design of existing verandahs outside Court Rooms 2 to 9
Around 22 iron poles will be installed and covered with RCC battens
Electrical services will follow the existing pattern
Heritage considerations:
The site is part of the Capitol Complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site
Monitored by senior engineering officers and visited by a member of the Chandigarh Heritage Committee (CHC)
Legal background:
Supreme Court upheld the High Court's directive to construct the verandah
Chandigarh administration had raised concerns about Unesco guideline violations
Approvals:
Approved by both CHC and its sub-group
Matter referred to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for recommendation to the World Heritage Committee
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