New Delhi: The Prime Minister of India is set to get a new residence, while many government buildings, including Shastri Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Rail Bhawan and Vayu Bhawan, will be demolished, as the Modi government readies the blueprint for its ambitious project to redevelop New Delhi’s Central Vista.
The redevelopment will also include a triangular Parliament building next to the existing one, to be completed by 2022, in time for the 75th anniversary of Independence, sources familiar with the developments told ThePrint. The other projects are to be completed by 2024.
The new PM residence will move to the southern side of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rajiv Gandhi had made 7, Race Course Road (now Lok Kalyan Marg) his home as PM in 1984, but it was only in May 1990 that the urban development ministry declared the premises as the permanent residence-cum-office of the Prime Minister of India.
New Parliament
The new Parliament building will be triangular in shape, and is to be located opposite the existing one in the same premises. The old Parliament House, an iconic structure designed by renowned British architect Herbert Baker in 1931, will not be touched.
The new building will have a Lok Sabha with a capacity to seat 900-1,000 people, a Rajya Sabha and a common lounge in place of the current Parliament’s Central Hall.
Other heritage buildings such as the North and South Block will also not be touched. Both will be converted into museums — one showcasing India before 1857, and the other after 1857.
The Vice-President’s residence is set to move next to Rashtrapati Bhavan from the existing location, Maulana Azad Road.
Vigyan Bhavan is to be demolished and will make way for a modern conference hall.
Also read: No heritage building will be pulled down for Delhi’s Central Vista makeover: Hardeep Puri
Other plans
The demolished buildings will give way to 10 new eight-storeyed government buildings along Rajpath, part of a common central secretariat will house approximately one lakh government employees. The current government buildings at the Central Vista house approximately 35,000 employees.
“The demolition will happen in a phased manner to avoid major disruption,” said a housing ministry official.
The outer facade of all the new buildings will remain more or less like the existing ones, in sync with the surrounding aesthetics. However, inside, the structures will be mostly steel and glass, and will be equipped with the latest gadgets and modern facilities. All the buildings will also have an atrium with trees planted in the middle.
All the eight blocks will be shorter in height than India Gate. The canal alongside Rajpath as well as the gardens will not be tinkered with.
“The idea is to move government offices that are located across the city to one place. This will not only save time in commuting from one office to another but also resources,” the official added.
The government currently shells out Rs 1,000 crore on rent every year.
All the new offices are to be connected by an underground metro rail. “There will be a shuttle service between all the offices. We are in talks with DMRC to work out the details,” said a second housing ministry official.
Also in the plans are a walkway and a cycling path connecting India Gate to the Yamuna. Shuttle buses will also be available on the route.
The housing ministry is also planning a National Biodiversity Arboretum on 75 acres of land behind Rashtrapati Bhavan, which will have collections of plants from different climatic zones of India.
“It will be a public space, open to all,” said the second official.
The ministry will now hold town hall meetings with different stakeholders before the project goes off the drawing board.
Also read: Parliament to Kashi Vishwanath: Why Modi always hires architect Bimal Patel for pet projects
Good Idea
Govt can generate more jobs through these.
Govt is also planning to save 1000 cr of moneys per month which is given as rent.
By these saving moneys govt can build lots of Universities, colleges and Schools
Not a good idea but extravagant show of luxury at the cost of tax payers money who would not be getting anything out of it. Wasteful expenditure.
And there are some ppl hired by govt to praise their stupid and senseless works. Ridiculous.
Youth don’t have jobs, people are dying due to the never stopping price rise. There is utter chaos in the country. This decision is just like Nero playing his fiddle when Rome was burning
Hmm are you aware how does government create employment ? It does so by doing projects like these and other infrastructure projects.
With this construction a lot of construction material would be required, business generated for cement, sand, transport, civil engineers, labourers, canteens, mess and a whole lot of other people.
So basically what you are opposing is government trying to create jobs.
Dynamism is the spice of life.Intrastructures need to meet the challenges of the future.Future infrastructure must be not only be aesthetically constructed but be earthquake & Nuclear attack proof without destroying the old charm & vista.Cycletracks & walkways are welcome but walkways must be disabled/aged friendly with facility to travel on conveyor belts.
Very good idea. For a growing country like ours, revisiting old assumptions and then taking appropriate action is most essential.
Well come decision. But care should be taken that these new building to be constructed should have enough natural light, green plantation and electric powered through solar system.
A bull in a china shop destroys everything before it leaves. This one seems to have no where else to go.
Good move, the best part is retention of the north and south blocks and parliament block. Changing with times is essential.
Good idea.
This project is really appreciable. It will be harder to maintain old beautifully designed buildings to work inside them in future. Now we will have Modern Infra like other countries have. A Shuttle Electric bus is just another good step. Also, Walkway and Cycling path bridge on the Yamuna River will be like we see in other countries. Finally, we are getting a good infrastructure.
And all this while the population is suffering without basic needs. Its easy to spend someone else fortune without accountability
With this construction a lot of construction material would be required, business generated for cement, sand, transport, civil engineers, labourers, canteens, mess and a whole lot of other people.
So basically what you are opposing is government trying to create jobs.