Project Parivartan gathers pace
It is said that Mr. Birla wishes to maintain the trademark external architecture of BITS while modernising the campus from within. The result - Project Parivartan, an operation of mammoth proportions which takes a multi-pronged approach to revitalizing this age old campus. Some of these are nearing completion while some are still in the pipeline. These are:
? The New Academic Building located at the centre of the campus between the clock tower and the temple ? The new hostel ? The new workshop ? Renovation of all hostels ? Renovation of all faculty division buildings
The New Activity Building is easily the most attention grabbing construction on campus. In keeping with Mr. Birla’s wishes, the complex is being built with such precision that not even a meter of concrete will be visible from the sky. The entire roof of the structure will instead be covered by grass, shrubs and trees.The structure consists of several blocks that include two large theatre complexes, four classroom blocks, two lab blocks, two blocks for teachers and research scholars. The cost of this portion of Project Parivartan comes up to Rs. 44 Crore, only a small fraction of the total costs despite its seemingly large amount of absolute capital investment. The complex, designed by Hafeez Contractor, is being built by different companies working in tandem. Shapoorji Palonji is the construction and civil structures contractor and is handling the laying of bricks, mortar, plaster, plumbing, drainage along with a part of the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and fire containment strategies. The interiors and furnishings are being done by KKC, while electricity, HVAC, and landscaping are being handled by other companies. The entire project is coordinated by the Project Parivartan team whose office is located in the Prefab structure near Ashok Bhavan. The consultant ‘Kushman and Wakefield’ is also operating on the project. Despite facing a few setbacks during the initial phases due to several untimely machine errors, Shapoorji Palonji was able to work quite efficiently and it is believed that the construction of the New Activity Building will conclude within the next two months. The Building is expected to be inaugurated by late December or early January.
In light of last year’s flooding of the construction basin, they have taken the drainage system all the more seriously. The central alley is designed to drain all the dirty water collected in the area to a massive tank which further has outlets in Pilani drainage pipes. Meanwhile, any clean water will be collected in massive rainwater harvesting tanks. While the drainage system in the central region seemed up to the mark, the other regions remain questionable. But to be fair, that part is still in progress.
The contractors have managed to transform the face of the campus in the summer break with their phenomenal pace. They have also factored in the student populace in their working methods by applying many regulations such as appropriate speed limits around the construction that chugs on for nearly 24 hours a day. The new hostel and workshop, located near the Project Parivartan Prefab office, are expected to take another eight months for completion. The hostel complex consists of three blocks arranged around a central common ground which will take the place of QTs for recreational purposes. There is only a single mess for all three blocks. The workshop is a 100% precision, 0% error structure with a 170 tonne steel gantry and crane. This workshop is supposed to be even larger than the current one and capable of handling a lot of heavy machineries. The cost of this part comes up to Rs. 19 Crore with Rs. 11 Crore going into the hostels and Rs. 8 Crore into the new workshop. A major chunk of the Project’s cost will go into the renovations of the existing structures. Since Mr. Birla wanted to maintain the external appearance of these hostels and FD blocks, all renovations are planned for the interior of these structures. If the new pharmacy labs are anything to go by, the new buildings are going to be amazing. Rumour Mill (We choked on our imaginary morning coffee when we read these. We give you the opportunity to do the same.)
?The Prime Minister is going to inaugurate the new complex in late December 2013 or early January 2014
?The entire campus will have Wi-Fi.
?All buildings and classes will be air conditioned. ?Classes will start in the new building in the following year (Second semester – 2014). ?The new hostel mess is too small and may not be able to handle the crowd.