Pune: The eight-storey Registration Bhavan at Bund Garden remains incomplete four years and three months after construction began, with a funding shortfall of around Rs 15 crore holding up the remaining work.The delay has persisted despite chief secretary Rajesh Aggarwal reviewing the project in Feb and directing officials to expedite its completion.The building was planned to bring key offices of the state registration and stamps department under one roof. The department is the second-largest contributor to the state exchequer, generating nearly Rs 70,000 crore in annual revenue. State govt has set a revenue collection target of Rs 68,500 crore for the department this financial year.The department, however, is still awaiting funds from state govt to complete the building. The pending work is being executed by the public works department (PWD), officials told TOI.“The project has been delayed considerably. Even after the chief secretary reviewed it, there has been very little progress. Around Rs 15 crore is still required, and until the funds are made available, the pending work cannot be completed,” said a senior registration department official, requesting anonymity.Another official said the proposal had been submitted to state govt, which had raised some queries. “These have been resolved, and the funds are expected to be released soon,” the official said.The project received administrative approval in Jan 2021, while construction began in Aug 2022. It was initially scheduled to be completed in 18 months.Aggarwal reviewed the construction progress in Feb and inspected the proposed office space, citizen waiting areas, parking facilities and other infrastructure. He directed officials to complete the remaining work within the stipulated timeframe and maintain quality standards.The building is coming up on a 1,421.4 sqm plot at Mauje Bund Garden. The state revenue and forest department sanctioned Rs 37.57 crore for the project in Jan 2021. The expenditure is being met through the personal ledger account (PLA) of the registration and stamps department.The structure, with a built-up area of 5,107.23 sqm, comprises a basement, a ground floor and eight upper floors. The construction tender was finalised through an order dated Aug 25, 2022, and awarded for around Rs 34.47 crore. PWD is executing the project, with payments being released in phases based on the progress of work.An official associated with the construction said the civil structure had been completed and finishing work was under way. Officials from the state Inspector General of Registration (IGR) office had earlier told TOI that they hoped to make the building operational by the end of Feb. However, the timeline now depends on the release of funds and completion of the remaining work.“The current office space is inadequate for these offices. The delay has prevented the department from shifting its offices to the new facility and bringing these services under one roof,” a senior department official said.Once completed, the building will house the IGR’s office, the joint IGR’s office, all deputy inspector general (DIG) offices, the joint director of town planning, a dedicated call centre and other allied offices. It will also have conventional parking facilities and an automatic hydraulic parking system with space for 51 four-wheelers, an official said.
