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What is Central Vista Project ?
In 2019, the central government announced the redevelopment project to give a new identity to the ‘power corridor’ of India.
The plan includes the construction of a new parliament, prime minister and vice-president’s residences along with 10 building blocks that will accommodate all government ministries and departments.
Piloted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the plan aims to change the face of the 86-acre area in Lutyens’ Delhi that shows off India’s iconic buildings such as South and North blocks of Central Secretariat, Parliament House, and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The project is estimated to be completed by 2024.
How much will Central Vista Project cost?
The whole project is estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crores. Out of this, around Rs 1,000 crores will be used for the construction of a new Parliament.
All about the new Parliament
The new parliament spans across over 64,500 square metres, which is about 17,000 sq m more than the existing one.
The new Parliament will be able to house 888 Lok Sabha members, 336 more than its current capacity. Along with that, it will accommodate 384 Rajya Sabha members, 139 more than the existing one.
The triangular-shaped building, which contrasts with the current circular one, is expected to be ready by 2022.
Why is there a need for a new Parliament?
The current building is 93-years-old and poses structural safety concerns, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said. It is “highly stressed” and the quality of amenities it offers has “considerably” deteriorated over the years, it added.
It also highlighted why a new structure is needed:
* Current building is not designed according to fire norms
* Excessive repairs have worsened the condition of the building
* The current parliament building poses a space constraint
* Natural light and ventilation in the chamber of two Houses continues to be blocked because of the two additional floors that were added after independence
* The seating halls are cramped and only the first two benches have the desk space to place documents and papers
* The communications infrastructure and technology is dated
Who are the designers and constructors?
In September, Tata Projects won the bid to construct the new Parliament for Rs 861.90 crores. It beat L&T’s bid of Rs 865 cores.
The designers were finalised in October 2019 by the government. Ahmedabad-based architecture company HCP Design was chosen to design the building.
Why is it facing objections?
The Prime Minister Narendra-Modi led central government allocated Rs 20,000 crore to the project in March. At the time, the nation was falling under the clutches of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Opposition urged the government to scrap the project and divert the funds to efforts dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
At the same time, conservationists said that the revamp will meddle with the history of the current building, which was designed by Edwin Lutyens. The 1927 building will be a lost heritage, they said.