VISAKHAPATNAM: The recently renovated old municipal office in Vizag will soon house the Andhra Pradesh Human Resource Development Institute (APHRDI) regional centre.
The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) has been tasked with the designing of interiors and installation of furniture in an antique style in conformity to the heritage nature of this building.
The APHRDI is meeting the training and capacity building requirements of staff of various government departments and other public functionaries through a variety of orientation and training programmes.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) recently retrofitted this old municipal office, under the smart city project, with about 7.2 crore. The renovation work was undertaken under the ‘heritage conservation’ component as part of the Vizag smart city mission.
According to historians, the old municipal office was constructed in the 1930s and served its purpose till the municipal office found its new address.
It was one of the first few structures of the city to have a concrete ceiling further supported by steel beams. Located in the One Town area, the highlight of the building is the staircase which was made in England.
The VMRDA superintending engineer V Bhavani Sankar said that VMRDA will provide interiors and furniture that will match up with the heritage nature of the structure that will house the APHRDI regional centre. “The interior work is estimated to cost about 80 lakh. The VMRDA floated tenders for these works,” said Bhavani Sankar.
The state government has taken a decision to shift the current APHRDI Regional Centre, Visakhapatnam that is currently located in a residential apartment to this old municipal office. According to the officials, the building will be suitable for meeting all the requirements of the expanded centre of the APHRDI. Architectural and interior designing will be provided for the facilities like classrooms, dining hall, library, courtyard, corridor, bathrooms etc.
The GVMC also gave a facelift to the Town Hall, located in the vicinity of this old municipal office, with about 4.25 crore under the smart city project. The heritage conservation project involved careful relevant works without missing out the traditional construction principles. The renovation works have accentuated the outlook of both these heritage structures of the city.
