Power centre shifts out of Raisina Hills as ministries move to new Bhawans

NEW DELHI: Paving the way for vacating offices from South Block and Shastri Bhawan, govt on Friday allocated space for relocation of offices of over half a dozen ministries, including defence, education, law, chemical and fertiliser, culture, agriculture and I&B ministries in the newly built Kartvya Bhawan-2.

After shifting of the defence ministry offices from the South Block, the seat of power and administration since British rule will completely shift out of the two key administrative blocks — South and North Block — built before independence. The cabinet secretariat has already shifted from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the newly built Sewa Teerth office complex near Vayu Bhawan and soon the PMO will also shift there. The North Block, which housed home and finance ministries has been relocated to Kartavya Bhawan-3 and 1. Some offices attached to CBI will also shift from North Block to Kartvya Bhawan-2.

PM Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Kartavya Bhawan-3 in August last year. “The shifting of PMO and defence ministry from South Block will help expedite the work of Yugen Yugeen Bharat Museum. The two iconic blocks close to Rashtrapati Bhawan will house the new national museum, which will become a major tourist attraction,” said an official.




As per an official issued by the housing and urban affairs ministry, office space for the defence ministry has been allocated in Kartavya Bhawan-2. It will have 225 rooms on the fifth and sixth floors. Similarly, the offices attached to the law and justice ministry will shift from Shastri Bhawan to the third and fourth floor of this building. Offices of culture, chemical and fertilisers will also shift from Shastri Bhawan to second and third floors of Kartavya Bhawan-2.

The order mentions that the education, agriculture and I&B ministry operating from Shastri Bhawan will be relocated at Kartavya Bhawan.

Officials said in the next couple of months relocation of offices from Krishi Bhawan will also be issued and tenders would be floated for construction of new office buildings.
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