The Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought suggestions from MPs on changes needed in the present structure of Parliament and the scale of renovation required in the new scheme of things where Government is set to remodel and develop the whole area in and around it, to be completed by 2022.
The suggestions were sought in a letter sent to the Lok Sabha members on October 11. According to the plan, the Government would also redevelop the 3 km-stretch of the Central Vista spanning from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.
The letter said, "... There is active consideration regarding either renovation of the existing Parliament building or construction of altogether a new Parliament building within the given premises."
It sought suggestions from the members to "rectify the drawbacks or faulty features" causing inconvenience in their day-to-day functioning in the existing building.
They have also been asked to suggest features or facilities which should be provided in the new building to make it "foolproof".
The Lok Sabha MPs have to email their suggestions within a week. They have also been advised against sending in hard copies of their responses.
The idea to either construct a new Parliament building or to renovate the present structure, which is over 90 years old, has been floating since UPA 1. The idea was given a fresh push under the present Government.
It is also said that the present dispensation would seek to add new structures to the existing Parliament building, round in shape, to make it 'Vastu friendly'.
According to sources in the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, five Indian architectural firms have submitted bids for the project to be executed by the Central Public Works Department.
Describing the whole exercise as a " dream project" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri has
maintained that not a single tree will be cut while the redevelopment takes place until 2022.
A committee of experts will now evaluate the technical proposals submitted by the firms. Financial proposals of only those bidders whose technical proposals qualify will be opened. As of now there is no estimate as to how much would it cost to undertake the entire project in the area which is the nerve-centre of the power structure that controls the country.