Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the new Parliament building at Sansad Marg, New Delhi on Thursday. The Supreme Court had on Monday allowed the Centre to go ahead with the proposed foundation stone-laying ceremony.
“The new building is an intrinsic part of the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and will be a landmark opportunity to build peoples’ Parliament for the first time after independence, one which will match the needs and aspirations of New India in the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022,” said a statement published on Modi’s official website.
The revamp, which was announced in September last year, envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, that is targeted to be constructed by August, 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024.
According to the government, the new Parliament building will be modern, state-of-the-art and energy efficient, with highly non-obtrusive security facilities. The triangular shaped building will come up adjacent to the present Parliament.
The Lok Sabha will be three times of the existing size and Rajya Sabha will be substantially bigger. “The interiors of the new building will showcase a rich blend of Indian culture and diversity of our regional arts, crafts, textiles and architecture. The design plan includes space for a magnificent Central Constitutional Gallery, which will be accessible to the public,” said the statement.
According to it, the construction of the new building will utilise resource efficient green technology, promote environment friendly practices, generate employment opportunities and contribute towards economic revitalization. It will have high quality acoustics and audio-visual facilities, improved and comfortable seating arrangements, effective and inclusive emergency evacuation provisions.
“The building will comply with the highest structural safety standards, including adherence to Seismic Zone 5 requirements and is designed for ease of maintenance and operations,” the statement said.
The function will be attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep S. Puri and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh. Around 200 dignitaries, including Union Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Secretaries Ambassadors/High Commissioners will attend the function.
On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed the Centre to go ahead with the proposed foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Central Vista project after the government assured it that no construction or demolition work would commence till the apex court decides the pending pleas on the issue.
The apex court had reserved its verdict on November 5 on a batch of pleas which have raised questions over the Centre's ambitious Central Vista project, which covers three km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi.
