Ahead of the ambitious project to redevelopment of Parliament and the Central Vista in Lutyens’ Delhi, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has sought details of employees from all Ministries by January 15 to formulate an accommodation action plan. The mammoth project that involves setting of a central secretariat complex, housing all Central Government departments and Ministries, and redeveloping the old Parliament building or setting up a new structure is aimed to be complete by March, 2024.
In his letter to Secretaries, Gauba has asked them to appoint a nodal officer not below the rank of joint secretary in their respective ministries to facilitate collection of all required information in this regard. Gauba also stated that such details will help the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, which is a nodal ministry for the mega project, formulate accommodation plan.
The Modi Government has readied a blue print for its ambitious plan to redevelop Central Vista — the nation’s power corridor in Delhi — for which several buildings such as Krishi Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Vigyan Bhawan, Vice-President’s residence and Nirman Bhawan are likely to be razed.
While the deadline for redevelopment of Central Vista — the three kilometre stretch between India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan on Raisina Hill — has been set at November 2021. The Parliament is expected to be ready by March 2022. The third phase of the grand project — setting up a Central Secretariat complex — is expected to be finished two years after that. The deadlines set for each phase are not without a rationale. For the Parliament complex for example, the deadline is set at March 2022. As the Government plans to hold the monsoon session in 2022 — marking India’s 75th independence — in a new Parliament complex.
The redevelopment plan of Central Vista is likely to include a triangular Parliament building next to the existing one, common Central Secretariat for ministries and the revamping of the 3-km-long Rajpath from Rashtrapati Bhavan till India Gate.
Shifting the residences of the Vice-President and the Prime Minister close to the Rashtrapati Bhavan is also under consideration.
As part of the Central Vista redevelopment project, the Government will construct a Central Secretariat to accommodate offices of all ministries, the Cabinet Secretary said in the letter.
According to an estimate, the Government is currently paying Rs 1,000 crore as rent annually for its offices spread across the national Capital.
“The Cabinet Secretary has sought a list of requirement of ministries, their attached and subordinate offices about the sanctioned and filled posts. He has asked secretaries of ministries to submit such details by January 15,” sources said.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has planned to float tenders for each project by next month. According to the Central Public Works Department, the entire Central Vista redevelopment project will be executed at an estimated cost of Rs 12,879 crore.
The new Parliament building with seating capacity for 1,000 to 1,200 people is targeted to be constructed by August 2022 when India will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024.
In October last year, Gujarat-based architecture firm HCP Designs won the consultancy bid for architectural and engineering planning of the Centre’’s ambitious project.
The firm, which will be paid Rs 229.75 crore for consultancy services, will prepare the master plan of the project, including designs, cost estimation, landscape and traffic integration plans, and parking facilities among others.