Advertisement

Reliance Energy Ltd has decided to demolish the Electricity House and its adjacent building at Santacruz (East) and build afresh on the spot. The building is located on the Western Express Highway, bang opposite the Chattrapati Shivaji Airport.

The new building that is likely to come up in two and a half years will be named Reliance Energy IT Park and is likely to serve as the back office support for the entire Anil Ambani Group. It will seat 4,000 people. One floor will serve as the corporate affairs office while the remaining will be used as an IT back office.

A Reliance Energy spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the development and did not respond to the email sent by Hindustan Times.

However, company sources said that Reliance Energy would be offering its back office facilities to other group companies for a fee on an arm’s length basis. Reliance Energy customers have already been informed about the shift of the Santacruz office to Bandra in their February electricity bills.

According to sources, the building, which now appears like a mass of concrete from the highway, will look a lot different when completed. It will be built at an angle of 45 degrees from the highway and will have a lot of greenery in front that will be visible from the highway.

The plan is being developed such that most of the trees that already exist on the project are left undisturbed. The building will also be looking at being a Green Building and will be seeking a LEED certification from US Green Building Council for the building.

Sources said that Anil Ambani was keen on creating a building that would provide some benefit to the community around which it is built. The idea of having some greenery facing the Western Express Highway was a result of this and it needed a change in the plans at one stage.

Sources added that Mumbai based architecture and design firm Edifice has been entrusted with the work of planning and designing the building.

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group has been planning a back office centre for the last two years especially to support the operations of Reliance Communications. With Reliance Capital too going all out in its retail push, there will be greater need for a strong back office operation.

Email author: sumanlayak@hindustantimes.com