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Central Vista Redevelopment Project

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Central Vista Redevelopment Project
File:Illustrative sketch of the proposed blueprint for the Central Vista at New Delhi.jpg
Illustration explaining the proposed redevelopment at Central Vista
LocationRaisina Hill, New Delhi, India
ProposerGovernment of India
StatusUnder construction
TypeReconstruction and renovation of administrative buildings
Cost estimate₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹1.2 crore or US$140,000 in 2023)
Start dateDecember 2020

Central Vista Redevelopment Project refers to the ongoing redevelopment to revamp the Central Vista, India's central administrative area located near Raisina Hill, New Delhi.

The area was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker during British colonial rule and was retained by Government of India after independence.

Scheduled between 2020 and 2024, the project as of 2020 aims to revamp a 3 km (1.9 mi) long Rajpath between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate, convert North and South Blocks to publicly accessible museums by creating a new common Central Secretariat to house all ministries, a new Parliament building near the present one with increased seating capacity for future expansion, new residence and office for the Vice President and the Prime Minister near the North and South Blocks and convert some of the older structures into museums.[1]

The cost of the Central Vista Redevelopment project, which also includes a Common Central Secretariat and the Special Protection Group (SPG) building, has been estimated to be around ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹1.2 crore or US$140,000 in 2023) [2][3][4] The project began with the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the new Parliament building in December 2020.

Background

Ensemble of government buildings on Rajpath, New Delhi in 2016.

The Central Vista was first designed by architect Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, when the capital of the British Raj was moved from Calcutta to Delhi. The Parliament building alone took six years to construct, from laying the foundation stone on 12 February 1921, to the inauguration by then Viceroy Lord Irwin on 18 January 1927.[5] After Independence in 1947, it became the seat of the government of the new Republic. The Parliament campus was declared a heritage precinct in the 1962 Master plan of Delhi.[6]

As the needs and duties of the government expanded, so did the usage of the space. However, due to the development in the area being around a century old, and the current growth and development of India, the Central Vista has "failed" to keep up with the needs of the country.[7] In the 1990s studies were carried out and the conclusion reached was the need of redeveloping the area.[8]

The Central Vista Redevelopment Project was launched in 2019.[9] The project includes converting North and South Blocks into public museums, while creating an ensemble of new secretariat buildings to house all ministries, relocating the Vice President and the Prime Minister's offices and residences near the North and South Blocks, and revamping the 3 km (1.9 mi) long Rajpath between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate.[10] A new Parliament building with increased seating capacity will be built beside the older one as India aims to expand its Parliamentary membership in 2026. The project aims for completion in 2024 before general elections.[11] This plan did not include the proposed PMO as there were issues of pending land-use change and litigation. The construction of the new Parliament building was temporarily put on hold by Supreme Court of India but was released again within few days with some "riders".[12]

Approval and bidding

Approval Process

The criteria for the competition were set by the Council of Architecture, which included no building being taller than India Gate. The project proponent or client had to seek conceptual approval from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC). Financial decisions received clearance from the Central Vigilance commission. Monetary allocation was provided from the Finance Ministry. Project assessment studies were done by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). The regulatory master plan is supposed to be done by an elected body like the NDMC, MCD or DDA, but was done by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).[13]

Competition

In reality, instead of a call to competition there was a Notice Inviting Tender. The difference being that in a competition the winner is awarded a prize, not a contract; in a tender, there is a firm intent and the winner receives the contract. The competition was held in two rounds. In the first round, merit is based on possibilities and innovation. In the second stage, the winner is decided based on their capacity to deliver results. The winner was decided by a jury, the names of jury members was announced before the competition.[14]

Finalists

There were six finalists of the competition:[15]

The competition was won by Bimal Patel led HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt Ltd.[16] There are different components to the overall project, and the contractors for each component are to be chosen by individual bidding processes.

Plan for Redevelopment

The project is expected to cost around ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹1.2 crore or US$140,000 in 2023) and to be fully completed by 2024.[17]

Central Vista redevelopment project
New structures Structures to be repurposed Structures to be retained as it is Structures to be demolished
  • New Parliament Building
  • Central Vista Avenue
  • Common Central Secretariat
  • Central Conference Centre
  • New residence and office for Vice President
  • New residence and office for Prime Minister
  • New facilities for IGNCA

New Parliament building

Main article: New Indian parliament building

A new triangular building to house Parliament will be built beside the existing structure as the first building under the project. The new structure will be spread on area of 20866 m² and will have built area of 694,270 sq ft (64,500 m2), throughout 4 floors (16125 m² each floor) and will have a larger seating capacity than the current building as India aims to expand its parliament in 2026. The new Rajya Sabha hall will have a capacity of 384 seats while the new Lok Sabha hall will have 888 seats, with additional capacity up to 1272 seats for hosting joint sessions. It will have digital interface systems, will consume significantly less power and serve for following 150 years[18] while the older structure will be retained as an archeological asset of the country and will be modified for more functional spaces for parliament.[19] The project is expected to be completed in 2024. TATA projects won the bid to construct the building at a cost of Rs 90 lakh in September 2020 [20] and began construction in January 2021.

Central Vista Avenue

Under the redevelopment of the 3 km (1.9 mi) long Central Vista Avenue, bridges over canals, pedestrian underpasses, wide footpaths, new parking lots, more green areas, benches as well as trees have been proposed.[21] Shapoorji Pallonji was awarded the tender for the redevelopment of the Central Vista Avenue in January 2021. They are required to complete the project within 300 days and maintain it for five years post completion.[22]

Common Central Secretariat

A set of ten doughnut shaped buildings on four plots as Secretariat will be built on either side of Rajpath. The height of all the buildings will be less than 42 meters (height of India Gate) and they will have 7 floors. Exteriors of all buildings will be similar to surrounding Lutyens buildings and they will be connected to each other and to the Delhi metro network by electric people-movers in underground ways and overground buses.[23]

The existing Secretariat houses only 22 ministries with 41,000 employees while the rest are spread across the city of New Delhi. The new facility itself will house all the 51 ministries.[17]

Central Conference Center

Vigyan Bhavan will be demolished and a new Central Conference Center will be built besides National Archives.[17]

New office and residence for the Vice President and the Prime Minister

The residence of the Vice-President will be relocated at a plot north of the North Block, while the residence and office of the Prime Minister will be moved to a plot south of the South block. Bringing them both within the Central Vista will cut down on travel time and decrease traffic restrictions.[24]

The Vice President's enclave will have an area of 15 acres with 32 five-story buildings with a maximum height of 15 meters. The Prime Minister's new office and residence will be built on a 15 acres plot with 10 buildings with four floors with a maximum height of 12 meters with a building for keeping Special Protection Group.[25]

Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) will be relocated from its current home on Man Singh Road as a part of the government's redevelopment of Central Vista, and its role as a cultural space will be expanded. A 15-acre plot near Jamnagar House has been identified to relocate the present building. The new building will retain IGNCA's existing role as a centre for research, publication, events and training while allowing additional facilities to be added.[26][27]

Reactions

Reception

Reactions from the Indian opposition parties have been mostly critical. Opposition parties and former civil servants have questioned the need to spend money on the project during a pandemic. International media slammed the wastage of money which could have been used for improving health infrastructure during the pandemic.[28] Many conservationists and historians have criticised the project for "robbing" Delhi of its heritage and an attempt to "erase" India's colonial history. Supporters of the project have disputed labelling transformation as an erasure, but rather recognition of the sentiment that India can no longer be defined by colonial symbols. Colonial symbols will neither be destroyed nor appropriated but simply remain. The engaged architect Bimal Patel called the project a triumph of "common sense" with a simple and functional design.[29][5][30] He has also stated that the existing listed heritage buildings will be integrated into the project, with any new buildings will be "aesthetically harmonious" with existing buildings.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ Friese, Kai (23 May 2020). "We are turning over a fortress to the people". India Today. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. ^ Government allocated nearly twice of Central Vista cost on vaccination: Puri
  3. ^ Sena slams Modi govt for Central Vista project amid pandemic
  4. ^ Union Minister Shreds Congress's "Hypocrisy" Over Central Vista Project
  5. ^ a b Menon, AG Krishan (8 March 2020). "Modi's Central Vista plan shows Indian urban planners are as complicit in destroying heritage". The Print. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  6. ^ "New Parliament with 900 seats to be ready by 2024 polls, will have a triangular shape - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  7. ^ "New Parliament with 900 seats to be ready by 2024 polls, will have a triangular shape - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  8. ^ Citation Needed
  9. ^ "Central Vista Redevelopment Project". Drishti IAS. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  10. ^ "'There's nothing we are doing that Lutyens wouldn't have. It's radical, but doesn't rupture with past': Dr Bimal Patel". The Indian Express. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  11. ^ Dutta, Prabhash K. (8 December 2020). "What is Central Vista project that Supreme Court has halted?". India Today. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  12. ^ Rajagopal, Krishnadas (5 January 2021). "Supreme Court approves Central Vista project". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  13. ^ "New Delhi to get a new makeover! Here's how the Central Vista redevelopment project being executed; details". The Financial Express. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Explained: How Delhi's Central Vista redevelopment project is being executed". The Indian Express. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Six final proposals of the Parliament & Central Vista Redevelopment Project". Sthapatya. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Central vista revamp Project: Ahmedabad-based firm wins consultancy bid for Central Vista revamp". The Economic Times. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  17. ^ a b c Gupta, Moushumi Das (1 December 2020). "Doughnut-shaped buildings, underground shuttle — how new Central Secretariat will look like". The Print. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  18. ^ Dash, Dipak K (11 December 2020). "New Parliament building will last 150 years, its Houses can seat 150% more MPs". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  19. ^ "India set to get a new Parliament. Here's all about it". The Economic Times. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Tata Projects Ltd Wins Bid to Construct New Parliament Building: Officials". The Wire. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Central Vista Avenue to be best in world! Redevelopment includes bridge over canals, footpaths, green areas". The Financial Express. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Shapoorji Pallonji's bid for Central Vista avenue lowest". Hindustan Times. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  23. ^ Srivathsan, A. (11 January 2020). "Whatever is built must reinforce the character Lutyens imagined: Bimal Patel". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  24. ^ Dutta, Arnab (16 January 2020). "New PM house, PMO & Parliament before 2024; ministries along central vista". Business Standard. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Central Vista: PM residence to have 10 buildings; sources say no question of dropping proposed PMO". The Times of India. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  26. ^ Nath, Damini (16 January 2020). "IGNCA to be demolished, relocated as part of Central Vista revamp". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  27. ^ Nath, Damini (27 January 2020). "Role of relocated IGNCA as cultural space could be expanded: Minister". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Global media slams Modi government for prioritising $1.8B new Parliament building over Covid battered people". The Eurasian Times.
  29. ^ Sengupta, Arghya (7 January 2021). "A new Parliament: Supreme Court judgment giving go-ahead to Central Vista revamp is a missed opportunity". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  30. ^ Ghosh, Shaunak; Chakraborty, Proma (13 January 2020). "Delhi's Central Vista: Why historians are against redeveloping it". Newslaundry. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  31. ^ https://www.hcp.co.in/assets/publication_docs/6762920200125_Special_Feature_Bimal_Patel__1_.pdf
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