Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate stretch to get a makeover

Delhi’s Central Vista, i.e., the 3 km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan, North and South Block up to India Gate is all set to get a makeover. The government is all geared up to redevelop Lutyens Delhi now, and the proposal floated by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will cover three historic and iconic landmarks, i.e., the Parliament Building, Central Secretariat, and the Central Vista itself.

Referring to this development, sources from the government mentioned that the Monsoon Session will be held in the newly-developed Parliament building in 2022. The project comes into action as iconic buildings are nearing the end of its structural life, and are in need to get revamped. As per the plan, the government has invited architecture and design firms from across the globe for consultancy. However, the government mentioned that the consultants would need to adhere to Central Vista Committee and Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone guidelines while carrying out the consultancy work. Sources from the Union Housing and Urban Affairs stated that the construction of Parliament House was completed in 1927, reason why the infrastructure and facilities are inadequate to meet the current demand.

Also, because the structure is old, there is an acute shortage of office space and no chambers for MPs in the Parliament building. This also means that the situation might aggravate in the near future when number of seats increase.
The government has, however, not yet decided whether a new building or the existing one will be the new Parliament building, and that the Central Vista will be redeveloped by next year.