India’s new Parliament building, a massive grey-and-red sandstone structure spread across 64,500 square meters, has provided employment opportunities to approximately 2,304,095 people, according to the official Central Vista website.
The building was designed by HCP Design, Planning and Management, based in Ahmedabad, and constructed by Tata Projects Ltd, as part of the larger Central Vista redevelopment project.
India’s New Parliament Building, Built By Tata Group
Situated next to the existing Parliament House, the new building will have increased seating capacity, accommodating 888 parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha and 300 in the Rajya Sabha, compared to the current 543 and 250, respectively.
Here are some key figures related to the new Parliament building:
– Built-up area: 58,700 square meters (more than double the previous size of 24,281 square meters).
– Total area: 64,500 square meters.
– Estimated cost: Rs 971 crore.
– Existing seating capacity: 1,224.
– Additional seats accommodated: 1,140.
– Employment generated (in man-days): 2,304,095.
– Steel used (in metric tonnes): 26,045.
– Cement used (in metric tonnes): 63,807.
– Fly ash used (in cubic meters): 9,689.
– Pieces of art to be displayed: 5,000.
Inauguration Coincides With 100th Anniversary Of Construction Beginning of Old Parliament
The inauguration of the new Parliament building coincides with the hundredth anniversary of the beginning of construction of the old Parliament House in 1921. However, the event has faced criticism for taking place during the Covid pandemic.
Additionally, a number of opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to personally inaugurate the building “sidelines” President Droupadi Murmu, undermines the high office of the President, and violates the spirit of the Constitution.
We had reported in 2020 that Tata Projects, the real estate arm of Tata Group has won the bid to build a new Parliament for India, at a cost of Rs 861.90 crore.
Under the Central Vista redevelopment program, this new Parliament building will be built nearby to the existing Parliament.
Interestingly, engineering and construction major L&T was also interested in building the new Parliament, and had bid Rs 865 crore. But Tata Projects’ bid of Rs 861.90 crore was the lowest, and they got awarded the project.
As per the Central Vista redevelopment program, several new buildings and modifications will be done at the Central Vista, which is the power corridor of India.
This area is in Central Delhi, and stretches from the entrance of Rashtrapati Bhawan to India Gate. This entire area was developed by Edwin Lutyens from 1912 to 1930, when the Britishers decided to shift their capital from Calcutta to New Delhi.
