A model of the new Patna collectorate. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, May 31: The Patna collectorate office is all set for a makeover. A four-storeyed building behind the existing structure of the District Board on the western side of the campus would be the first mark of change.

The tender for constructing the building estimated to cost around Rs 9 crore has been floated. It would be built on 833sqm and would house the offices of the registration, transport and excise departments.

At present, the registration and excise department offices are on the collectorate campus, spreading over an area of 9.605 acres. The transport department operates from the Biscomaun building.

“The proposed building would have a steel structure. Pre-cast beams and pillars would be used in its making,” a government official told The Telegraph. After the completion of the foundation work, four months would be enough to complete the building, the official said, adding that the construction of buildings with steel structure takes less time in comparison to those having traditional structure.

“Buildings with steel structure have a higher cost component but the government opted for it because offices would be shifted to it after its completion and the old buildings would be demolished for creating space for the main building on the centre of the campus,” the official said.

The modalities of the main building have not been chalked out yet.

“In all probability, the second building would house the office of the district magistrate (DM). It would be a five-storeyed structure and its area would be much more than the first building,” the official said.

“Vertical growth is the best available option now because one cannot have the liberty of old times when there was sufficient space and different offices were located in different buildings,” he added.

The official said the ultimate goal of the move is optimum utilisation of the space of the collectorate campus. “A centralised building would enhance the functioning of the offices and would make things easier for people,” the official said.

The new building coming up behind the District Board would have all the modern features, including parking space, elevator, power back-up and public lavatory. “A well-defined seating space for the visitors has been earmarked in the building design,” the official said.

The collectorate was shifted to the existing premises in 1857.