The new Parliament building, the cornerstone of which will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 10, is likely to be ready by 2022, Lok Sabha Chairman Om Birla said on Saturday, adding that the Parliament session is expected of that year is held in the new building. Birla added that the construction of the building will directly involve 2,000 people and indirectly 9,000 people.
“The new building will showcase the cultural diversity of the country. Hopefully, in the 75th year of Independence (2022), the session of Parliament will be held in the new building, ”he said.
Also read: Prime Minister Modi will lay the first stone of the new Parliament building on December 10
Tata Projects Limited won the tender to build the new Parliament building, close to the current one, at a cost of Rs 861.90 crore under the Central Vista redevelopment project in September this year.
Here’s a look at the features of the new Parliament building:
Spread over 64,500 square meters, earthquake resistance: The new building will have an area of 64,500 square meters and is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 971 crore, Birla said, adding that the new building will be earthquake resistant.
To be built in an indigenous way: “The existing temple of democracy is turning 100 years old … It is a source of pride for our compatriots that the new one is built by our own people as an excellent example of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” said the Lok Sabha speaker.
Seating capacity for more than 1000 MP: According to the Lok Sabha speaker, up to 1,224 MPs can sit together in the building, while a new office complex for all MPs from both houses would be built on the site of the current Shram Shakti Bhawan. In the new building, the Lok Sabha chamber will have a capacity of 888 members, while Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats for the members of the upper house. This has been done taking into account the future increase in the membership of the two houses. At present, Lok Sabha has an authorized force of 543 members and Rajya Sabha of 245.
Number of floors: Om Birla said the outlook for the new building will be similar to the existing one. “There will be a basement, a ground floor, a first and a second floor in the new building and their height will be the same as the old one, so both must be in symmetry,” he said.
Pollution control measures: Officials have said that steps have been taken to control air pollution and noise during construction works on the new Parliament building, which will have separate offices for all MPs.
Paperless offices: The all MPs office in the new building will be equipped with the latest digital interfaces as a step towards creating “paperless offices”.
Great Hall of the Constitution, library, hall: The new building will also have a large Constitution Hall to showcase India’s democratic heritage, a hall for Members of Parliament, a library, multiple commission rooms, dining rooms, and ample parking space.
What about the existing House of Parliament ?: The existing Parliament building will be preserved as an archaeological asset of the country. It will be appropriately updated to provide more functional spaces for parliamentary events, to ensure its use in conjunction with the new building. The existing building is a huge circular building 560 feet in diameter.
The foundation stone of the present House of Parliament was laid on February 12, 1921, and the construction took six years and cost Rs 83 lakh at that time. The opening ceremony was held on January 18, 1927 by the then Governor General of India, Lord Irwin.
(With contributions from the agency)
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