Migration to the new parliament building may finally take place in the coming weeks, possibly after the Easter recess, as works progress according to a schedule set last January.

Work on the plenary chamber is practically finished and the redesigned desks, which had to be reduced in size at the 11th hour due to lack of space, have now been installed, as have the MPs’ chairs.

Works on the other block, which includes the Speaker’s office, the committee rooms and MPs’ offices, are also nearing completion and parts of the building are ready to be handed over to the government.

Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation chairman Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi yesterday confirmed that testing and commissioning of the building had started in line with the deadlines established by the contractors at the beginning of the year.

If the momentum gained in the last couple of months is maintained, the possibility of migrating might be seriously considered

The corporation was entrusted by the government to oversee the project, designed by world renowned architect Renzo Piano, which has been dogged by delays since the very start.

“If the momentum gained in the last couple of months is maintained, the possibility of migrating to the new building in the coming weeks might be seriously considered,” Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said when contacted.

Last January Speaker Anġlu Farrugia told this newspaper the migration process would take place at the earliest opportunity, possibly when Parliament reconvenes at the end of the Easter recess. This time window could be a realistic option for the move, as the relocation from the Palace in Valletta is estimated to require about 15 days.

Asked whether such a deadline was still within reach, Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi said a lot of groundwork had been done as the corporation was working with the clerk of the House to ensure a seamless transition.

However, he pointed out that the final decision rested with the House Business Committee, which is expected to meet in the coming days to take stock of the situation following another presentation by the GHRC.

According to the updated project timeline presented to Parliament in January, both blocks should have been finished by the end of last month, while the commissioning of the audiovisual and security systems will take place by the end of this month.

The project was supposed to be inaugurated last October and the government has slapped contractors with a hefty daily fine. The delays were blamed on the delivery of stone and furniture, as well as the complexity of the design.