NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan, the first of ten planned buildings under the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) project, which will house central government offices.The project aims to bring various ministries and departments together in one place to improve efficiency.
Key ministries to move from Raisina Hills to Kartavya Bhavan
Kartavya Bhavan-03, the first building to open, will accommodate the ministries of home affairs, external affairs, rural development, MSME, DoPT, petroleum and natural gas, and the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.Shifting of the home ministry and personnel department from North Block at Raisina Hills to the new address gains huge significance since these have operated from the iconic structure for nearly 90 years.In a statement, PMO said Kartavya Bhawan was a state-of-the-art office complex spanning an area of around 1.5 lakh sq metres across two basements and seven storeys, including the ground floor.The building is designed to use 30 per cent less energy. It includes glass windows that help keep the building cool and reduce noise from outside. It also has energy-efficient LED lights, sensors that turn off lights when not needed, power-saving smart lifts, and a system to manage electricity use.At present, many ministries are operating from older buildings such as Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan. These buildings were built between the 1950s and 1970s and are now considered “structurally outdated and inefficient,” according to the government.
Union housing and urban affairs minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday that offices in these four buildings will move to temporary locations on Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Minto Road, and Netaji Palace for two years while construction is ongoing.
Ten CCS buildings planned under Central Vista revamp
The housing and urban affairs Ministry plans to build ten CCS buildings under the Central Vista redevelopment project. The project is expected to be completed by June 2027.The government said some buildings will be kept as they are. These include the National Museum, National Archives, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan (Ministry of External Affairs), and Dr Ambedkar Auditorium. These buildings are relatively new.Vanijya Bhawan is also expected to be retained, according to the ministry’s plan.Two CCS buildings, numbered 2 and 3, are under construction and are expected to be completed by next month. Construction of CCS building 10 is scheduled to finish by April next year.CCS buildings 6 and 7 are expected to be ready by October 2026.As part of the Central Vista redevelopment project, the government has already built a new Parliament building, the Vice President Enclave, and redeveloped the Kartavya Path, which runs from Vijay Chowk to India Gate.In addition to the Common Central Secretariat, the government will also build an Executive Enclave. This will include a new Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Cabinet Secretariat, India House, and National Security Council Secretariat.A new residence for the Prime Minister will be built under the second phase of the Executive Enclave.
