SC refuses to stay Rs 20,000 crore central vista project

The apex court today declined to put on hold the ambitious central vista project, which seeks to modify Lutyens' Delhi with a new parliament building and a common Central Secretariat and revamping of the 3-km-long Rajpath.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), SA Bobde, refused to stay the Central Vista redevelopment project. A petition had sought to quash the Central government's 20th march order notifying a change in the land use.

"During the COVID-19 nobody is going to do anything. There is no urgency," said the CJI. He said that there is a similar petition pending in the High court, there should be no duplication and asked the petitioner to amend his petition.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that Parliament is being constructed and why would anyone have any objection in it.

As the nation braces for the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak, the government’s ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project in Lutyens' Delhi is under the scanner with several opposition leaders slamming the Rs 20,000 crore venture as 'a vanity project' and a 'postponable luxury' in times of crisis.

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The Centre last month approved the land-use change for the execution of its ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project in Lutyens’ Delhi with the issuance of a notification by the Union housing and urban affairs ministry.

The redevelopment project of the Central Vista -- the nation's power corridor -- envisages a triangular Parliament building next to the existing one, common Central Secretariat and revamping of the 3-km-long Rajpath -- from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.

The new Parliament House building will come up on a 9.5-acre land near the existing building. Earlier, the plot was meant for the development of a district park.

According to sources, the prime minister's residence and office are likely to be shifted near the South Block and vice-president's new house will be in the vicinity of the North Block.