Kartavya Bhavan sets green benchmark, cuts electricity use by 76 per cent

‘Sarkari daftar’ often conjures a drab and unimaginative image. Defying this stereotype, the Kartavya Bhawan has become a trendsetter with world-class green building features, consuming 76 per cent less electricity and reducing fresh water consumption by 49 per cent compared to equivalent old buildings.

Kartavya Bhavan-3, one of the new Government office buildings under the Centre’s ambitious Central Vista redevelopment plan, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 6 last year. The office of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Manohar Lal, said that Kartavya Bhavan stands as a shining example of New India’s future-ready Government infrastructure.

“Designed with world-class green building features, the campus consumes 76 per cent less electricity, saving nearly 4.45 lakh units every month in a single block, and reduces fresh water consumption by 49 per cent by recycling and reusing around 3 lakh litres of water every day,” it said in a post on X.

The minister’s office said that with energy-efficient systems, a zero-discharge campus and smart resource management, Kartavya Bhavan is more than an administrative office — it is a symbol of modern, sustainable and citizen-centric governance, advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat. The building is designed to use 30 per cent less energy.

It has special glass windows to keep the building cool and reduce outside noise. Solar panels on the roof of Kartavya Bhavan — 03 will generate over 5.34 lakh units of electricity every year. Solar water heaters meet more than a quarter of the daily hot water need. Charging stations for electric vehicles are also provided.

Kartavya Bhawan was the first of the 10 Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings being built under the Government’s Central Vista Redevelopment Plan. So far, three new CCS buildings have been operationalised while seven buildings are under construction. Under the Central Vista Redevelopment Plan, the Government has already constructed a new Parliament building and the Vice President Enclave, and redeveloped the Kartavya Path that spans from Vijay Chowk to India Gate.

Besides the Common Central Secretariat, the Government will also construct an Executive Enclave that will house a new Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Cabinet Secretariat, India House and National Security Council Secretariat. Under the second phase of the Executive Enclave, a new Prime Minister’s residence will be constructed.