Mumbai: The state govt is likely to spend around Rs 181 crore on repairing and renovating the recently acquired 22-storey Air India building at Nariman Point. Officials said it will take around six months to carry out the work and then state govt offices will be shifted to the building.The state govt had spent around Rs 1,601 crore on its acquisition.A structural audit last week by the state public works department (PWD) had revealed that the building requires significant repairs and renovation.“Two separate tenders will be floated—for construction and electrification. The tender process is currently underway and the building renovation work will be completed within six months. The construction work includes repairs to the building, interior work, getting new furniture and undertaking painting, while the electrification work includes installation of new lifts and electrical equipment,” an official said.The state PWD recently carried out an inspection of the building and installed a Maharashtra govt signage board at the main entrance. Officials said the iconic Air India logo that sits on top of the building will be removed later and replaced with a logo of the Maharashtra govt that can be seen from a distance on Marine Drive.The state cabinet cleared the plan to buy the building to expand Mantralaya and house state govt offices there in 2023. It decided to waive all unearned income from and other penalties of Air India so that the takeover could be processed. The building was taken over on June 2 this year, making 46,470sqm of space available for govt offices there. Officials said govt will save around Rs 200 crore in annual rent if all offices currently housed in private buildings are moved to the structure. CM Devendra Fadnavis had presided over the registration of the building agreement. “It will not only save rent but also bring offices together,” he had told TOI.
