Chandigarh, October 17 — After a wait of more than seven years, the Chandigarh administration has finalised a ₹124-crore proposal to construct a new building for the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office in Sector 17, officials said. The project, located next to Hotel Shivalikview, is expected to begin next year once the budget is cleared by the Centre.
UT chief engineer C.B. Ojha said the detailed estimate had been prepared and would soon be sent to the Government of India for approval. “We plan to begin construction next year after budget allocation. The interior layouts and design plans are already in place,” Ojha noted.
The long-pending proposal was first initiated in 2018 to address the shortage of space in the current DC office, which is situated near the TS Central State Library in the same sector. The existing structure is proposed to be repurposed into a modern art gallery with an amphitheatre in front of it, giving Sector 17 a cultural facelift alongside the new administrative hub.
Officials said a soil investigation report had already cleared the site for construction. The testing process examined the soil’s strength, composition, and ability to support the structure’s load, taking into account local climate and land-use factors. Once the project gets the final nod, the building is expected to be completed within two years.
Designed as a sustainable and energy-efficient complex, the seven-storey structure will follow a 5-star GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) standard. It will include a basement parking facility for around 600 vehicles and feature an integrated sewage treatment plant and rooftop solar panels to generate its own treated water and power.
According to the plan, the building will accommodate offices of several departments under one roof — including the registering and licensing authority, registrar of cooperative societies, excise and taxation, revenue, labour, industries, food and supplies, election, census, and tehsildar offices, along with the Red Cross and the colony rehabilitation wing.
Officials said the design aims to combine functionality with environmental responsibility. “The focus is on creating a sustainable, efficient workspace for multiple departments while ensuring the new building leaves a minimal carbon footprint,” an official from the engineering department mentioned.
