By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, MAR 14, 2024: REVENUE Secretary, Sanjay Malhotra, yesterday virtually laid the foundation stone for the New GST Bhawan and Residential Quarters at Hyderabad for officers and staff of CGST and Customs, Hyderabad Zone under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

Members of the CBIC, Chief Commissioner of CGST and Customs, Hyderabad, Director General, HRD, CBIC and other senior officers alongwith the officers and staff of the Hyderabad Zone participated in the function.

The project consists of construction of one office tower and one residential tower to accommodate the offices of the CGST Zone Hyderabad and to provide residential accommodation for the officers of CBIC.

The office tower christened as New GST Bhawan shall cover a built-up area of about 77000 sq meters spread over 2 basements, 4 over ground parking and 21 office floors. Located at one of the most preferred locations near Hitec city, Hyderabad, the New GST Bhawan would house most of the CGST offices of Hyderabad, which are currently running in rented premises. It would accommodate nearly 1500 officers and staff.

A modern building designed according to GRIHA rating and green norms, the building is expected to provide improved tax payer services and enhance employee welfare. Building will host a large GST Suvidha Kendra and boast of a state of art Auditorium. The residential tower shall consist of 21 apartments with a built-up area of approx. 7900 sq meters.

Buildings shall be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 645 Crores by the CPWD in EPC mode in a period of three years after award. New project is third largest infrastructure project of CBIC in monetary terms.

Addressing the gathering, Revenue Secretary appreciated CBIC for taking up such projects which would ensure proper work space and residential facilities for the officers and staff apart from creating modern environment for trade facilitation. He appreciated the Hyderabad Zone for taking up the infrastructure projects in right earnest and requested all institutions to speed up the execution of the building works so that the state of the art facilities become available at the earliest.

Alok Shukla, Member (Admn), CBIC expressed his satisfaction about the project, which is one of the largest office cum residential projects undertaken by CBIC, receiving approval in a very short space of time. He thanked the Union Finance Minister and Revenue Secretary for their guidance and support in this endeavor of CBIC.

Vivek Ranjan, Zonal Member, CBIC highlighted the salient features of the project and requested the Hyderabad Zone to coordinate with the CPWD for timely implementation of the project.

Sandeep Prakash, Chief Commissioner, CGST & Customs, Hyderabad Zone highlighted that this is the second infrastructure project of the Zone to have been launched in past six months. First project for construction of Customs House at Shamsabad near the international airport is under execution for expected completion by end December 2024. This new project of construction of New GST Bhawan is likely to be completed by third quarter of 2027. He expressed the gratitude of the officers and staff of Hyderabad Zone to the Government for expeditious approvals for these projects which would result in realization of long pending demands for office and residential space for CBIC at Hyderabad.

In another event, Dr. Vivek Joshi, Secretary, DFS, Ministry of Finance, inaugurated the new office premises of Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA), at World Trade Center (WTC), Nauroji Nagar in New Delhi, today. The premises offers modern amenities. It is an environmentally friendly building and makes efficient use of water and sunlight.