Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Central Government’s ambitious plan to redevelop New Delhi’s iconic Central vista and build a new Parliament for the country. The top court was hearing a slew of petitions that questioned the lack of transparency and objectivity in awarding clearances to the project by the government and the Central Vista Committee.
A three-member bench led by Justice AM Khanwilkar said they found no infirmity in the various environmental and land use clearances obtained for project and that the exercise of power by the Central Government under the DDA Act was “just and proper”.
The government had defended the project in court, arguing that the 93-year-old existing Parliament house, opened in 1927, had less space, no fire safety norms, and wasn’t earthquake-proof. It also pointed out that all central ministries need to be in one place to improve the government’s efficiency.
The redevelopment plan includes a new Parliament building which is said to be the centre-piece of the Rs 20,000-crore Central Vista project and a common Central Secretariat for central government offices, along with the Prime Minister office and residence, Special Protection Group building and Vice-President Enclave and a revamp of the 4-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, located in New Delhi.
The new triangular complex will be big enough to occupy 1,224 MPs lawmakers (888 in the Lok Sabha and 384 in the Upper House).
It is targeted to be built by 2024. The 64,500 sq/m new building will replace the 93-year-old existing Parliament house.
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