KCR’s government released the design for the new, palatial secretariat building this week despite protests from opposition parties

Telangana chief minister K Chandradeskhar Rao’s glitzy Vaastu-friendly secretariat complex is closer to reality, surpassing hurdles of land sourcing and protests from political rivals who say the project will hurt the environment and gut crucial funds.

The CM, known as KCR, is a firm believer in Vaastu, an ancient Indian system of building planning that focuses on directional alignments for harmony and good luck. His fascination with the system is such that he has a dedicated Vaastu advisor — Suddala Sudhakar Teja — who has drawn up the plan for the palatial building along with renowned Mumbai-based architects Hafeez Contractor.

Teja said the design has all Vaastu “elements that suit the ruler,”

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“Jaitley informed the CM that the Centre is willing to handover Bison Polo Ground for the construction of a new secretariat and required lands for the expansion of Karimnagar and Medchal highways,” a release from Rao’s office said after his meeting with Jaitely, according to PTI. 

On Wednesday, KCR’s office released the new design.

Initially, the chief minister suggested the existing secretariat complex be demolished and a new complex be raised in the same place. He believed that having an administrative building facing a water body (Hussain Sagar lake) was against Vaastu. 

The CM stopped going to secretariat and operated from his own camp office at Begumpet, which he got remodelled as Pragati Bhavan at a cost of Rs 50 crore last year.

“There are some serious Vaastu problems in the existing secretariat. It had no proper ventilation, greenery and enough moving space. Hence, we have decided to shift it to the new premises,” Sudhakar Teja said.

According to the designs released on Wednesday, the new Secretariat resembles the Federal Building in Chicago and the National Palace in Santo Domingo of Dominican Republic in its elevation. 

“It will be a six-storeyed building with two broad wings. While chambers for the chief minister, his cabinet colleagues and secretaries will be located on one side, all the departments would be in the opposite wing. All the sections of the same department will be located at one place, so that a person doesn’t have run from one building to another to get the file cleared,” the Vaastu consultant said.

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