3 Blocks Ready by Oct: Central Vista's Next Phase Nears Finish

The next phase of the Central Vista redevelopment is nearing completion, with three new Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings—among a total of 10—set to become operational by October.

- Soumya Chatterjee

NEW DELHI:

The Central Vista redevelopment, which was initially to cost ₹20,000 crore, is the centrepiece of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid to erase Delhi's colonial-era architecture from the seat of power and leave a new architectural legacy. The ones already delivered are the new Parliament building, which hosted its first session in September 2023; the redeveloped and re-christened Raj Path as Kartavya Path, which opened in September 2022; and the Vice President's enclave, which was ready in April 2024.

The old Parliament building, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and the Secretariat were the first buildings to come up in the late 1920s. Buildings such as Udyog Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, and Krishi Bhawan were constructed between the mid-1950s to late 1960s. Among the buildings that have been demolished are Raksha Bhawan (Defence College) and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and the old V-P residence.

A senior central government official aware of the plans said that by October, departments under various ministries, including finance and defence, will occupy the first three CCS buildings. They were originally due to be ready by November 2023.

On the second set of redevelopments, the official, on condition of anonymity, said, "Offices that worked out of the North Block, some departments from Shastri Bhawan and Nirman Bhavan, will be relocated to the new buildings."

The shifting will start from August and by October, CCS buildings 1, 2, and 3 will be fully occupied. While CCS 1 is in the final stages of furnishing, the other two are "ready for all practical purposes," the official said.

Once vacated, the older government buildings will be taken up for redevelopment, beginning the second chapter of the Central Vista transformation.