ITBP finally gets land to build HQ in Delhi, to come up by 2023

NEW DELHI: Almost six decades since it was set up, the Indian government's specialised high-altitude paramilitary force, the ITBP has been allotted land to construct its headquarters in the national capital. The new ITBP HQ building is expected to be constructed by 2023.

Ever since it was raised on October 24, 1962 under the CRPF Act in the wake of the India-China war of 1962, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) headquarters was located in various government office structures, but the force was not yet to get its own dedicated land or building so far.

The land, allotted on December 24 by the Land and Development Authority under the Ministry of Urban Development, is on Mathura Road, around 2 km from the current ITBP HQ at Block 2, Central Government Offices (CGO) complex in south Delhi's Lodhi Road area which has offices of important government ministries and departments like the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the headquarters of other central paramilitary forces and the Ministries of Environment and Forests and New and Renewable Energy.

An ITBP source said that the government has allotted the piece of land which is in two parts. "The first part of 3.83 acre will be used to construct the headquarters building while the second piece of land of 4.85 acre will be used to develop greenery. The second part of land will be on temporary basis," the source said. The land has been given on "as is where is" system, the source said.

The ITBP will only construct the building and enhance the greenery in the second part of the land but it will not authorised to make any other changes to its nature, the source said. With the allotment of the land, the process, including contacting the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to prepare the building plan, has been started.

As per the information, the construction work of the headquarters will be started within three-four months once the tender is completed. "The building is expected to be constructed by 2023 as per the bond in which it is mentioned that construction should be completed within two years of the allotment of the land." While wishing its personnel ahead of the new year, ITBP Director General S.S. Deswal on Tuesday made them aware about the new development— a happiest moment for the force since its inception. (IANS)

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