For want of Rs 10.4 crore, new Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ZP building unlikely to be ready for new elected members

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The newly elected body of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar zilla parishad is unlikely to get a general body hall, offices, or chambers for the president, vice-president and sabhapatis as furniture work in the under-construction "green building" could not begin due to the non-availability of funds, officials said.A proposal seeking Rs 10.4 crore for furniture and basic amenities was sent to state govt on July 9, 2025, but it is yet to receive approval.With ZP elections scheduled on Feb 7 and counting on Feb 9, officials said the delay has ruled out the possibility of the new administrative building being ready for the new office-bearers. They said all of the received budget has already been spent on the construction of the state-of-the-art building, but in the absence of furniture and allied facilities, the structure remains unusable."Without furniture, the building cannot be occupied. Even if funds are sanctioned immediately, it will take at least six months to complete the furniture work," a senior ZP official said, adding that fire safety systems and other basic facilities are also linked to the pending proposal.The project was initially granted administrative approval of Rs 47.3 crore on Jan 14, 2021, followed by technical approval of Rs 34.8 crore on March 26, 2021. The site was later shifted closer to the existing ZP office, leading to major design changes due to soft soil conditions. The number of departments increased from 12 to 17, lifts from two to four, and enhanced elevation treatment was incorporated. A revised estimate of Rs 97.4 crore was subsequently prepared.On Sept 5, 2024, state govt granted revised administrative approval of Rs 59.4 crore, excluding furniture, internal roads, parking, solar systems and the compound wall. Officials said electrification costs alone increased from Rs 3.4 crore to Rs 9.3 crore due to structural changes. The increased amount of Rs 6 crore was spent from the cess funds. Of the funds received so far, Rs 51.49 crore was released, and Rs 51.45 crore was spent, while Rs 7.93 crore is still awaited. An allocation of Rs 8 crore was made in the ZP's 2025-26 budget.ZP chief executive officer Ankit said the president, vice-president and five sabhapatis are expected to be appointed by the end of Feb. "As a contingency plan, we have two options — holding GB meetings in the old building hall, which can accommodate around 110 members; utilising cess funds to complete the GB hall in the new building," he told TOI.Ankit added that around Rs 7 crore is available in cess funds, which could be used with the general body's consent if govt approval for the furniture proposal continues to be delayed.