What is Central Vista Project?

Since March, Delhi, among other parts of India, has been reeling under the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortage of oxygen beds and Intensive Care Units led to a huge surge in Covid deaths. Amidst the crisis, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, announced a lockdown, allowing only essential work to be continued. Meanwhile, the Government has brought the construction work for the Central Vista project under the ambit of “essential services”, a move that flayed by the opposition.

On May 12, in an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a group of 76 public intellectuals and scholars from India and abroad called for a halt and reconsideration of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project.

The same day, leaders of 12 opposition parties, wrote to the Prime Minister seeking the suspension of the project and they divert the money to aid the fight against coronavirus. Environmentalists and conservationists too have expressed concern over the redevelopment of the power corridor.

What is the Central Vista Project all about? Why does the Central government want to construct the project in the first place?

What does the Central Vista Project envision?

The Central Vista Redevelopment Project is a construction plan to go give India’s power corridor, also known as the Lutyen’s Delhi, a new look and identity. The landmark project, which was announced in 2019, involves constructing a Parliament building, a common central secretariat and revamping of the 3 km long stretch from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate known as the Central Vista. It will replace various offices of the central government, the residence of the prime minister and also the vice president‘s house. The entire project is estimated to cost Rs.20,000 crore and is expected to be completed before the general elections in 2024.

What is the plan for a new parliament?

A new parliament building will be constructed close to the existing Parliament building in the Parliament House Estate, under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. It is expected to be completed by 2022 in time for the commemoration of the 75th year of India’s Independence. The triangular-shaped Parliament will have four storeys and will come up in an area of 64,500 m² at an estimated cost of Rs.971 crore.

In the new building, the Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 1,224 members, while the Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats. At present, the Lok Sabha has a strength of 543 members and the Rajya Sabha 245. It all will also have a Central Constitution Hall to showcase the country‘s democratic heritage, a library, committee rooms and dining areas. The existing circular Parliament House building will be refurbished for use along with the new one. The North and South blocks will be converted into museums.

Why is the revamp needed?

According to the Government, the existing Parliament building built by the British in the 1920s is structurally unsafe. Most of the buildings along the Central Vista have outlived their structural lives. Inadequate infrastructure, lack of safety features and offices spread over different locations are also cited as the reasons for the revamp. It is said that the proposed Secretariat buildings will bring all offices in one place.

When did the construction start?

The construction of the new Parliament building started in January 2021. The Central Government allocated Rs.20,000 crore to the project in March 2021 when the country was in the grip of the pandemic.

Proposed deadlines: The construction of the prime minister’s residence under the ambitious Central Vista project will be completed by December 2022, the Central Public Works Development (CPWD), which is overseeing the project has informed the government-appointed expert panel recently. The new residential complex will have 10 four-storey buildings and will be built on a 15-acre plot. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024 under the project.

Why is the project being opposed?

The Central Vista Redevelopment Project is criticised for being pursued by the Government when the country is reeling under the coronavirus pandemic. Opposition leaders, intellectuals, several civil society groups and environmental organisations have urged the government to scrap the project and divert the funds to effects dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

Some experts have raised concerns about the projects environmental impact, while conservationists are concerned about the revamp of the historically significant power buildings in the poor corridor. The Shram Shakti Bhavan, Transport Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan, Nirman Bhavan and Krishi Bhavan or some of the buildings likely to be demolished in Lutyens Delhi to pave way for the project.

How has the Centre reacted to criticism?

The Centre had argued that the project would “save money” which is paid as rent for housing central government ministers in the national capital. It had submitted that the decision to have a new parliament building has not been taken in haste and no law or norms have been violated in any manner for the project.

The Centre dismissed a PIL seeking stay on the construction of Central Vista amid the pandemic, saying that it was just another attempt to stall the project. The Centre claimed that the construction workers at the site were following Covid protocols.

 

Picture Credit : Google

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