Central Vista Avenue inauguration: All you need to know about the mega revamp project

Central Vista Avenue is a part of an ambitious mega revamp project by the Narendra Modi government called the Central Vista redevelopment project

Lying in the heart of Delhi, the central vista avenue is a 3.2km stretch from Vijay chowk to Rajpath, now called Kartavya Path, was built by Britishers in the 1930s.

With an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crores, the project is set to change the face of 'Indian democracy'. But how? Here's a detailed report.

What is the Central Vista Redevelopment project?

More than seven decades after India became independent from British rule, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government in 2019 decided to change the identity of India’s ‘power corridor’ by announcing redevelopment of British-era Central Vista Complex. The plan envisaged the construction of a new parliament, prime minister and vice-president’s residences, revamping of favourite hang out spot of Delhiites along with 10 building blocks that will accommodate all government ministries and departments. Till now, government buildings built in the 1930s by Britishers have been the face of Indian democracy.

What all is set to change under the Central Vista Project?

The project will bring in whole new set of buildings in the heart of Delhi. One of which will be called Legislative Enclave-- this will include a new Parliament Building, chambers for Members of Parliament, Library and Annexe and refurbishment of the existing Parliament that is more than 90-years-old.

Central Vista Avenue

Designed as an iconic symbol of the British Raj, several modifications were made to the 3 km long tree-lined stretch post independence. Despite changing King's way to Rajpath and Queen’s way to Janpath, the avenue continued to retain its basic character. However, under the redevelopment project the colonial-era designed and planned stretch has got a complete change of character that befits India administrative capital.

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Common Central Secretariat

Several offices of the government of India are housed on the Central Vista while many others are scattered across Delhi. In order to make the business move smoothly, improve coordination, and increase productivity a Common Central Secretariat will be build in the Central Vista under the redevelopment project.

Apart from this a defence Enclave, to consolidate the multiple departments and attached offices of the Ministry of Defence, an Automated Power mover to connect and integrate all the buildings of the Central Secretariat under the ground has been proposed.

Executive Enclave

Under the mega redevelopment project , the office of prime minister will be relocated into a new office proposed behind South Block. The Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Council Secretariat and a Conferencing Facility like Hyderabad House of MEA shall also be located together with the PMO. Together, this ensemble will form the ‘Executive Enclave’.

Besides, the government also plans to extend the Central vista stretch to the old fort under the project. An iconic structure on western bank of Yamuna will be established in the last leg of the revamp project. It will be called as nav Bharat Udyan.

ALSO WATCH: Central Vista revamp: NDMC passes proposal, Rajpath to be called 'Kartavya Path' now