Government orders immediate shifting of all offices from private buildings, sets December 31 deadline

The State Government has resolved that no office of the Government departments or associated offices should function from private buildings forthwith.

The government has directed the officials concerned to take immediate steps to shift the offices of departments/corporations/societies/universities housed in private buildings to government-owned buildings. December 31 has been set as the deadline for departments to identify government space and make arrangements to shift there. “No rental payment for government offices housed in private buildings will be made from February 1 next year,” a circular issued to departments said.

The circular has been issued as there are many government buildings with additional space available, and it has been decided to ensure the functioning of all government offices from the State-owned premises. The government did not even spare the departments or organisations that pay rent from their grants-in-aid or their own source of funds or those from the Centrally sponsored schemes.

“The administrative head concerned shall ensure that no rental is paid for government offices housed in private buildings. In case of deviation, the administrative head will be personally held responsible,” the circular said, adding, “This shall be treated as priority”. Senior officials opined that the development comes ahead of the submission of budget estimates by the respective departments seeking allocations for the next financial year.

The government is forced to shell out huge amounts annually in the name of rent for private buildings accommodating its offices, and curtailing this can help save huge amounts to the exchequer. Officials justified the circular, claiming that huge office space was available since Andhra Pradesh vacated its offices over a period of time in the last ten years post-bifurcation.

While the neighbouring State handed over the secretariat, paving the way for the construction of the new complex, it had also handed over office space in complexes like Parishram Bhavan, Gagan Vihar Complex, BRK Bhavan and Errum Manzil, where huge office space is available to accommodate the offices of the Government or its affiliated bodies.

“A major chunk of this office space has been lying vacant and under lock and key ever since the A.P. Government shifted its offices to Amaravati,” a senior official told The Hindu. Some of these buildings, like the one which housed the A.P. Film, Theatre and Television Development Corporation, were in litigation as they were leased out to others, resulting in objections from the Telangana Government, and the matter is pending adjudication in the courts.