PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of new Parliament building

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday laid the foundation stone of the new parliament building as part of an ambitious Central Vista plan.

Around 200 dignitaries, including Union Ministers, MPs, Foreign envoys, and religious leaders attended the function. Ratan Tata, whose Tata projects has the contract was also present.

The actual construction, however, cannot begin immediately, with a petition challenging the project pending in Supreme Court. The new parliament building is the key piece of the ₹ 20,000-crore Central Vista project, which aims to build and refurbish the government buildings on part of the 3 km Rajpath that stretches from the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan to the iconic war memorial India Gate.

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The proposed four-storied parliament building will cost nearly ₹ 1,000 crore and is expected to be completed in time for the country's 75th Independence Day in August 2022. The building will seat 888 members in the Lok Sabha Chamber with an option to increase to 1,224 Members during Joint Sessions. The Rajya Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 384 members.

Each Member of Parliament will be provided with a 40 sq m office space in the redeveloped Shram Shakti Bhawan, which will be completed by 2024. The new building will also showcase the country's glorious heritage, with contributions from artisans and sculptors from across the country.

Thanking PM Modi, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “The New Parliament shall stand tall as testimony to the rise of a #NewIndia, an India that yearns for the best, embraces the finest and believes in setting highest benchmark of quality. Thank you Prime Minister Sri @narendramodi

for being the beacon. #NewParliament4NewIndia”

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