Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a ‘surprise’ visit Sunday night visited the construction site of the new Parliament building, under the Central Vista redevelopment project, for an inspection. The PM, clad in a construction helmet, arrived without prior intimation and security detail. He spent almost an hour at the site and did a first-hand inspection of the construction status.
The project which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 971 crore, is scheduled to be completed in 2022. Modi has been taking a keen interest in the project. He has also instructed the officials to ensure that it is completed well in time. The new building is part of the Central Vista project. The construction of the building is expected to be completed in the second half of the next year. He spoke to people involved in the construction as he inspected the ongoing work, official sources said. When laying the foundation stone for the new Parliament in December last year, the Prime Minister stated that the new structure will satisfy the country’s 21st-century aspirations while symbolising the “coexistence of the new and the ancient.” Government officials have said that Parliament’s winter session in 2022 will be held in the new building. The new Parliament building will have a triangular shape with a seating capacity for 900-1200 MPs. The new parliament building will have an area of 64,500 square metres. It will also have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India’s democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space. In the new building, the Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 888 members, while the Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats for members.
