NEW DELHI: The Central Vista area in New Delhi is a remarkable and historical precinct built during the British Raj. Amid COVID-19, the central government announced the Central Vista project for the redevelopment of the area accorded Grade 1 heritage status under the extant Unified Building Bylaws for Delhi. Tata Projects Limited won the bid to construct a new Parliament building as a part of the Central Vista Project.
In reply to major backlash on the project, Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, said, “In the current economic scenario, the project shall generate a large number of direct and indirect employment which could be an important fulcrum for economic revival.” Puri added that the estimated cost of the envisioned triangular structure of the new Parliament is Rs 971 crores. Tata has won the bid for construction at the lowest rate, which is Rs 861.9 crore.
Puri also commented on the impetus behind the Central Vista Project and said, “The building is 93 years old and its facilities and amenities are highly inadequate.” He listed things like shortage of working space, parking, amenities, unorganised services in Central Vista buildings, which he asserted needs upgrading.