The Central Vista Redevelopment Project is one ambitious project in India that aims to redevelop a stretch of 3.2 km of land called the Central Vista. The project is being led by the Prime Minister of the country. The project revolves around pulling down and rebuilding several government buildings, constituting iconic landmarks, and constructing a new Parliament, all within the budget of 20000 crores.
The plan was announced in the year 2019 to mark a new identity to the power corridor of India, envisaging the edifice of a new Parliament building, residence of the Prime Minister and Vice-President along with 10 blocks that will accommodate all government ministries and departments. With the target of completing the project by 2024 and finishing off the new parliament building by 2022, the project is being executed by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The necessity of a new parliament building.
The present parliament building of the country is a 93 years old structure built during British rule, therefore the building is a threat to structural security and the quality of conveniences provided by the building is significantly degraded over time. The new building being constructed will have a modern and larger, triangular, and will have an area of over 64,500 square meters.
With the rise in the population of India, it is expected that there’ll be an increase in the number of MPs needing more seating capacity, which is not possible with the old parliament building with limited seating capacities.
The overall objective is to ensure environmental sustainability, restore the vista’s architecture and protect its heritage along with expanding and improving public space.
Was it really required?
The project commenced when the country was fighting the waves of the Covid 19 pandemic and the allocation of 20000 crores to this project seems unjustified given the situation. Even several opposition leaders had urged the government to scrap the project and divert the funds to efforts dealing with the pandemic in the country.
Moreover, conservationists said that the project would convert the current building, built by Edwin Lutyens in 1927 a lost heritage. Adding to that, the environmentalists claim that the project would be a threat to the environment.
Amid all of these, the project is still moving forward with its scheme.
