New Parliament Of India

About New Parliament

Due to concerns about the stability of the older structure, proposals were made in the early 2010s to construct a new parliament building as a replacement. In 2012, then-Speaker Meira Kumar formed a committee to explore various alternatives to the current building. The existing 93-year-old structure is considered to have insufficient space to accommodate members and their staff, and it is believed to have structural problems. Nevertheless, due to its significance in India’s national heritage, measures are being taken to safeguard the building, and plans are being made to preserve its integrity.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a budget of ₹20,000 crore is being allocated for the Central Vista project this year.

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In 2019, the Indian government initiated the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, which included the construction of a new parliament building as well as other projects in New Delhi. These additional projects involved the renovation of Kartavya Path, the creation of a new residence for the Vice President, the construction of a new office and residence for the Prime Minister, and the consolidation of all ministerial buildings into a single central secretariat.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new parliament building took place in October 2020, followed by the laying of the foundation stone on December 10, 2020. However, the Supreme Court of India, through Justice A. M. Khanwilkar, placed a hold on the entire Central Vista Redevelopment Project until the resolution of pleas against the project in court.

Nonetheless, on December 10, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the building, which included an inter-faith prayer service led by religious leaders. In January 2021, the Supreme Court cleared the project in a majority judgment, with certain conditions regarding environmental concerns. Subsequently, construction work on the building commenced.

About The Building

Bimal Patel, the architect overseeing the redesign of Central Vista, has revealed that the new complex will feature a hexagonal shape and will be situated adjacent to the current complex. Its size will be nearly equivalent to the existing one.

The design of the building aims for a lifespan exceeding 150 years and incorporates earthquake-resistant features. It will also showcase architectural styles from various regions of India. Considering India’s growing population and potential future delimitation, the proposed chambers for the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will have increased seating capacities to accommodate more members.

Specifically, the Lok Sabha chamber in the new complex will accommodate 888 seats, while the Rajya Sabha chamber will have 384 seats. Unlike the current parliament building, there will not be a central hall. The Lok Sabha chamber will be able to accommodate 1,272 members during joint sessions. Additionally, the building will consist of four floors housing ministers’ offices and committee rooms.

The new construction will occupy a total built area of 20,866 m2, including a 2,000 m2 open-sky area designated for a banyan tree. This size represents a 10% reduction compared to the existing circular building, which encompasses 22,900 m2 (with a diameter of 170.7 m) and a 6,060 m2 or 1.5-acre open-sky area divided into three sectors, each half an acre.

Furthermore, the new parliament building will feature a ‘Sengol,’ a historical scepter originating from Tamil Nadu during the Chola Kingdom era. This scepter, which symbolizes the transfer of power, was presented by the British to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. It will be installed in the new Parliament building, which is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

Controversy

A total of 20 opposition parties have declared their boycott of the inauguration event, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sidelined President Droupadi Murmu for the ceremony. This announcement was made to protest against the alleged action. In response, Union Minister Amit Shah urged that the matter should not be politicized.

New Parliament Of India

Due to concerns about the stability of the older structure, proposals were made in the early 2010s to construct a new parliament building as a replacement. In 2012, then-Speaker Meira Kumar formed..

By Mazty Williams

On May 26, 2023

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New Parliament Of India