JJ lays foundation stone for multi-purpose facility in Delhi cantt

New Delhi, Apr 26 (UNI) Army Chief General JJ Singh today laid the foundation stone for a Rs 44 crore combined Army mess, auditorium and Convention Centre facility -- christened 'Paramvir' -- at Delhi Cantonment today.

The multi-purpose complex -- to have facilities for official functions, social gatherings, conferences, exhibitions and media briefings -- will have an auditorium for 1,200 persons, a convention hall for 180 participants and four conference halls having capacities to accomodate 30 to 100 persons.

In addition, the complex -- to be located at Parade Ground Road -- will have a banquet facility for 400 persons and a dining hall for 200.

Located in front of the building will be a high bay mast with its pinnacle having the Army logo -- Cross Swords -- placed on it.

Alongside shall be a bandstand in middle of a water body with a terraced garden leading up from the bandstand to the entrance lobby.

The main entrances will be laid with green lawns interspersed with water-bodies and waterfalls. The green look of the complex will not end at the entrances to the building but will continue to the interiors and it will truly be a 'building in a garden and garden in a building', said an official spokesman.

This prestigious project was mooted by Army Head Quarters in March 2002. Keeping in view the uniqueness of the project, it was decided to take expert advice from the leading architects of the country and based on the details obtained from consultants, tenders were invited for the project.

The work has been sanctioned for an amount of Rs 44 crore. The main mess building work is to be completed in 18 months time, while the entire infrastructure is likely to be functional in two-and-half years.

UNI DG MA RK1850