HCC Approves New Collector's Office with Strict Conditions

The Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation has granted conditional approval for the construction of a new District Collector’s office on the site of the former Labour Colony. The approval is subject to compliance with eight specific conditions; failure to meet these requirements may result in the revocation of the permission.

The decision was made during an HCC meeting held on June 3 at the Smart City office, chaired by HCC Chairman Jayant Deshpande. Other members in attendance included Mukund Bhogale, Dr. Shaikh Ramzan, Mohammad Iqbal, and others. The demolition of 338 houses in the Labour Colony commenced in May 2022, and preparations for the new administrative complex have been underway for more than two years. Given the proximity of the proposed site to key heritage structures such as the Rangeen Gate and a 20-acre stretch of fortification wall (fasil), HCC’s clearance was a critical step.

The stipulated conditions include:

Submission of the NA (Non-Agricultural) conversion status,

The original Property Registration (PR) card and site map,

No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Pollution Control Board and Fire Brigade,

Transfer of the adjoining 30-meter road to the Municipal Corporation,

Installation of a dedicated electricity transformer,

Provision of a detailed survey map,

Tree-felling NOC, and

Preservation of the historic fort wall, including development of a surrounding garden.

These conditions aim to ensure that the new development aligns with heritage preservation standards and municipal regulations.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.