Central Vista Project: New houses for PM, Vice President being built with ‘Secret Tunnels’ leading to the Parliament

Central Vista project is the revamped version of the Parliament. It aims to preserve the heritage buildings soon. The avenue is a 3km long stretch that will cover areas like North and South Block, Rajpath with its connecting gardens, Vijay Chownk and India Gate plaza. 

It will also refurbish the corridor making it a tourist attraction. In addition to this, there will be 3 underground tunnels that connect the house of the Prime Minister, MP’s chamber and the Vice president’s residence. However, there isn’t a tunnel connecting Rashtrapati Bhawan as the President hardly visits the Parliament.

According to the reports by TOI, these tunnels will ensure the safety and security of the VVIP’s entering and exiting the parliament. A proper schedule has been laid out by the government for the development of the Central Vista, Central Secretariat and the Parliament building.  This project is likely to get completed by November 2021. While the work on Parliament and Central Secretariat will be finished by March 2022 and March 2024 respectively.

This Parliament will be equipped with the latest gadgets which is a  step toward making the work entirely paperless. It will also have a Constitution Hall highlighting the democratic history of India. It includes a lounge for the MPs, a dining area, a library,  multiple committee rooms and a parking space. The seating capacity will be increased in both houses. In Lok Sabha, it will be from 545 to 880 and for Rajya Sabha, it is from 250 to 384.

Last year in September, Tata Projects Limited took up this project after winning the bid for Rs 861.90 crore. The new building will be constructed in proximity to the old one.  There will be  adjustments made to the existing building to make it more functional.

A new PM house and PMO is included in the project. These two will be situated on the South Block side. The Vice President’s residence will be erected on the Northside. Chambers for MPs will be set up near Transport and Shram Shakti Bhawan. 

Central Vista is planned out in such a way to upgrade the accessibility for the public in the areas designated for the tourist and visitors. There is a segregation between the VIPs and public routes to provide high security to the VIPs.

The tunnels have a single lane where golf carts will be used to communicate from one chamber to another.  These tunnels will only be used by the designated people. 

Harshdeep Singh Puri, Minister of Urban and Housing Affairs, performed the ceremony of Bhoomi Poojan for Central Vista Avenue on  4th February 2021.