Rs 20,000-Crore Central Vista Revamp In Lutyens' Delhi Gets Official Nod As Modi Govt Notifies Land Use Change

While the nation is grappling with the new-found realities of coronavirus lockdowns and continuous surge in positive cases, the Narendra Modi government has decided to go ahead with Rs 20,000-crore mega project that will see Centra Vista- India's seat of power - in a brand new avatar. The move comes even as the nation struggles to contain the effects of the viral pandemic that have spilled over to various sectors. The Centre had issued the notification about the change in land use regarding the Lutyens' Delhi project on Friday last week. The notification has changed the status of the 86-acre region in the Lutyens' Delhi. The Central Vista grand plan includes developing the area in a new singular structure that will house all major ministries as well as residential facilities for top officials including the Prime Minister of India. At present, the area includes Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block and Sansad Bhavan among others.

The notification regarding the land-use change has not gone down well with many. People are arguing not only over the timing of the decision but also the very need for such a makeover plan in the first place. Senior journalist and author Tavleen Singh raised concerns. In a tweet on March 21, Singh said, "Worrying that Parliament yesterday approved a plan to change Parliament House and the Central Vista. An unknown architect has been chosen to alter the historical heart of New Delhi without a full public debate. How and why?" Senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury also attacked the Modi government over the ill-timed move. "Modi government priorities are cruel.  When all resources must be mopped up to meet this COVID-19 challenge a Gazette notification is issued for the ₹20K crore Central Vista project.  Shame," Yechury said on Twitter.

The redevelopment project of Central Vista -- the nation''s power corridor -- envisages a triangular Parliament building next to the existing one, common Central Secretariat and revamping of the 3-km-long Rajpath -- from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, PTI report said. The new Parliament House building will come up on a 9.5-acre land near the existing building. Earlier, the plot was meant for development of a district park. According to PTI, prime minister''s residence and office are likely to be shifted near the South Block and vice-president''s new house will be in the vicinity of the North Block. The vice president''s current residence is among those buildings identified by the government for demolition in Lutyens'' Delhi for the purpose of the project, they said.According to the notification, a residential complex will be developed in the north direction of South Block and another in the south of the Dalhousie Road, paving the way for shifting of the prime minister office and residence. "The eastern part of the South Block and the west direction of the Rashtrapati Bhavan will have residential complex," a government official said.