The Indian government plans to build a new Parliament building in Delhi, estimated to cost ₹971 crore, as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The project aims to redevelop a 3-km stretch between the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the India Gate, including a new Central Secretariat, PM's residence and office, and a large park, with a total cost of around ₹20,000 crore.
The need for a new Parliament building is debated, with some arguing that the current building is inadequate to accommodate the increasing number of Lok Sabha MPs. The Lok Sabha's seating capacity is 550, but the number of MPs may increase to 848 after the delimitation exercise in 2026. However, others argue that the current building can be upgraded, and the construction of a new one is a waste of money, especially during an economic crisis.
Critics also point out that the project was finalized without public consultations or heritage studies, and that the architect chosen for the project has close ties to Prime Minister Modi. Additionally, the construction of the new building and other structures will reduce public space and may worsen pollution in the national capital.
The project is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court, with 10 petitions filed against it. Despite this, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the new Parliament building, sparking controversy.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Indian government plans to build a new Parliament building in Delhi.
2. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 10, 2020.
3. The estimated cost of the new building is ₹971 crore.
4. The new building will be part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, which aims to redevelop a 3-km stretch between the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the India Gate in New Delhi.
5. The Central Vista project also includes plans for a new Central Secretariat, a new PM's residence and office, and a new Vice-President's house, among other features.
6. The total estimated cost of the Central Vista project is around ₹20,000 crore.
7. The new Parliament building will be triangular in shape and have four storeys.
8. The building will be equipped with modern audio-visual communication systems and digital interfaces.
9. The existing Parliament building was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and was constructed in 1927.
10. The existing building has a circular design with three chambers: the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, and a library.
11. The number of seats in the Lok Sabha was frozen in 1976 and has not been revised since then.
12. The delimitation exercise, which is the process of re-drawing constituencies, was postponed to 2026.
13. If the delimitation exercise is carried out, the number of seats in the Lok Sabha could increase to 848.
14. The new Parliament building is being designed to accommodate 888 Lok Sabha MPs.
15. The construction of the new building has been challenged in the Supreme Court, with 10 petitions filed against the redevelopment plan.
16. The Supreme Court has directed that no construction work can be done until the case is resolved.
17. Climate activists have warned that the construction could exacerbate pollution levels in Delhi.
18. The architect of the project is the same one who built the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad and is working on the Kashi Vishwanath project.
19. Historians and architects have argued that no heritage studies or public consultations were conducted before the construction of the new building was finalized.
20. The new building is expected to be completed soon, but the exact completion date is not specified.