New Delhi:The recent go-ahead pronounced by the Supreme Court and the subsequent clearance from the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) has given a much-needed push to the much-hyped central vista project of the central government.
ETV Bharat tried to explore all angles on the need of central vista project which aims to redevelop the 3-km long stretch from Rashtrapati Bhawan to India Gate.
Prof Chetan Vaidya, former Director of NIUA, in a telephonic conversation with ETV Bharat The Narendra Modi government has rolled up its sleeves to have a new Parliament building as early as by 2022 to commemorate the 75 years of India's independence.
The new building will replace the 93-years old heritage building which will be transformed into a Museum.
The government also aims to complete the entire project including construction of 11 administrative buildings to house all government ministries by 2024.
Under the central vista project, all the offices of the central government will come under one roof. The project will also reconstruct the existing North and South blocks.
As per the estimate, at present, the government spends Rs 1,000 crore as rent annually for its offices spread across Delhi.
The government opined that the entire central vista needs a new look where PMO, all ministries will be set up adjacent to each other.
According to the government's plan, the new Parliament building will be a four-storey structure with a total area spread to 64,500 sq metre.
CPM leader Hannan Mollah speaking to ETV Bharat The estimated costs for constructing the Parliament building is 970 crore. There will have a seating capacity of 1272 MPs including 888 in Lok Sabha and 384 in Rajya Sabha. The new Parliament will not have a central hall.
The expansion has been done keeping in mind the delimitation exercise scheduled to take place in 2026.
The existing building has the capacity of 543 in Lok Sabha and 245 in Rajya Sabha.
There will also be a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for MPs, a separate library, multiple committee rooms, dining area, etc.
It may be mentioned here that Tata projects limited has owned the bid for the construction of the building.
Talking to ETV Bharat Prof Chetan Vaidya, former director, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) said that the mega project was very much necessary "as the existing buildings are very old and there was lack of spaces."
"Such a project was needed for a long time. Renowned architect Prof Vimal Patel has made the plan which is very good. We all should support such a project," said Prof Vaidya.
When asked on the allegations levelled by opposition parties on spending such a huge amount of rupees, Prof Vaidya said, "The central government has sanctioned amount for all sectors and issues. It's not that by downsizing the allocation from other projects, the central vista was funded."
He said that the new buildings can accommodate several people with wider office spaces.
"The existing Parliament building will be renovated and it will turn into a Museum. Whereas there are several existing buildings which really need renovations," said Vaidya.
However, a cross-section of people including opposition parties have severely criticised the government's move to go ahead with the central vista project.
As many as 69 retired bureaucrats including Harsh Mander, Rahul Khullar, Aruna Roy, AS Dulat among others claimed that the country's public health infrastructure needs much more attention in place of central government's "unnecessary project."
Significantly, Shapoorji Pallonji Group has recently won the bid for the redevelopment and restructuring of the central vista.
"The government is spending crores of rupees over the central vista project whereas there is no money allocated for the poor. The government has money for the contractors whereas the stakeholders will get their huge commission. This is totally an injustice being meted by the central government," said former MP and senior CPM leader Hannan Mollah to ETV Bharat.
He has vehemently criticised the central government for going ahead with such a project "when the country's economy is in shambles."
Mollah alleged that by demolishing the existing structures, "the government is trying to destroy the history."
Also Read:Congress terms Central Vista Project as govt's 'misplaced priority'
