Hindustan Lifecare Limited (HLL), the nodal agency to carry out the upgradation work at the three public sector vaccine manufacturing companies, has started the construction of the new building at the BCG Vaccine Lab in Chennai.

“The Company will take two years to finish the project. We hope to commission the building in 2014 last,” said E A Subramanian, general manager (projects), HLL Lifecare Ltd.

According to him, the work lagged in the case of BCG VL because of the delay happened in getting approval from the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and another approval from Chennai Corporation. These two approvals were badly needed for starting the work.

However, HLL is yet to get the approvals from Pollution Control Board and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB). He said these two approvals can be obtained within one month.

The new building is designed as per the norms of WHO GMP facility. For the construction of new building and upgradation in BCG VL, government has allotted an amount Rs.64.72 crore, Subrahmaniam said and added that the planning for both design and construction has been executed for the construction of new facilities in Coonoor and also in Kasauli.

The building will consist of all facilities for GMP requirements such as seed revival, seed propagation, media preparation, facility for sterilizing, inoculation and culture, harvesting facility, and in the quality control, amenities for sterility, toxicity and potency will be set up.

Further, separate rooms for filling and lyophilisation and for packing and dispatch will be maintained, he told Pharmabiz.

In the case of Pasteur Institute at Coonoor, he said one more month will be needed to start the work as approvals from Hill Area Conservation Authority and Department of Town and Country Planning, Coimbatore are required to start the work. He expressed hope that the authorities will give the approvals in a fortnight’s time.

The work at the CRI premises in Kasauli is about to complete. He said the work is progressing in all the three units, but it does not in no way affect the ongoing production of vaccines in the existing plants.