Oil India plans 'iconic' Guwahati office

Active support for Oil India from new BJP chief minister Himanta Sarma knows no boundaries.

This report learns Oil India is in the final stages of talks with the Assam government for land to build a new corporate office in Guwahati. An Oil India source confirms the state government has earmarked a 79,200-sq ft (5.5-bigha) plot in the Bamuni Maidan area of the state capital, close to the Anuradha cinema hall and an industrial estate.

"Sarma wants an iconic structure as Oil India's corporate office in Guwahati," he says. "Now, we are looking for a world-class architect to design the building."

It's still unclear how much Oil India will pay for the land, but it's believed the price will be "reasonable." In exchange, the state government wants Oil India to set aside a single floor in the multi-storey building for its skills development department.

Despite earlier rumours to the contrary, Oil India will retain its present corporate office in Noida. "After all," adds our source, "the DGH and oil ministry are all in Delhi."

Only director operations P Goswami has been asked to maintain a permanent presence in Assam. From this month (July), Goswami will work from Oil India's small office in the Bhangaghar area in central Guwahati.

"Goswami will be in charge of the new office when it comes up," we hear.