The central public works department has decided to transplant 1,838 trees from the compound of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, which is to be demolished for the construction of three office buildings under the Central Vista redevelopment project.

According to the department, the successful bidder will have to transplant the trees in 60 days and maintain them for 365 days.

The project will cost around Rs 1.86 crore, the CPWD has said.

Last month, the CPWD had invited bids for the three new office buildings that will come up on the plot where the Indira Gandhi Centre now stands, and be part of the common central secretariat. They are to be built at a cost of Rs 3,269 crore, with Rs 139 crore set aside for five years’ maintenance.

According to the PWD, the trees will be shifted within the site or near it.

The document inviting bids says there are 2,219 trees on plot number 137, of which 1,838 are to be transplanted. Of these, 1,150 trees have girths up to 50cm while 401 have girths between 50cm and 90cm.

The girth and height of each tree will be measured and recorded, and the agency hired for the job will submit photographs of each tree before translocation.

“Lifting of trees shall be carried out or supervised by a qualified and/ or suitably experienced person and crane operator using a crane and supports. It shall be ensured that there is no
damage to the soil ball or any scratching and splitting of the root system. The tree should be kept intact without injuries to its root system, trunk and crown,” the PWD has said.