As many as three iconic buildings—the National Museum, the National Archives Annexe and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA)—in Delhi are set to be demolished under the Rs 20,000 crore Central Vista project, which envisages a new Parliament building, and new residences for the Prime Minister, and the Vice President.
Other buildings marked for demolition are Shastri Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, Jawahar Bhavan, Vigyan Bhavan, Nirman Bhavan, Raksha Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan, and the Vice President's residence. The total area marked for demolition is 458,820 sq m.
The National Museum consists of thousands of invaluable unique idols, original sculptures, priceless coins, paintings, and jewellery that connect to several political and cultural history. The museum has the famous dancing girl of Harappan civilization, Nataraja in Chola Bronze, relics of the enlightened Buddha, Ganjifa cards, Tanjore paintings, and wood-carved doors. All these items will get transferred to the north or south block.
Although the main building of the National Archives will remain as it is, the annexe building will be demolished to construct a new building.
The archival building keeps 45 lakh files, more than one lakh maps, 1.3 lakh Mughal documents, and 25,000 unique manuscripts. To transfer these documents can create a risk factor of getting lost or mishandled.
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts has an extraordinary collection of heritage items, manuscripts, and an impressive library. All these will be temporarily transferred to the Janpath Hostel, especially renovated for this purpose.
In February 2021, the central government told the Lok Sabha that all the marked heritage buildings, confines under the Central Vista region will be protected, and any renovation task will be taken up after the approval of the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC). However, architects question these claims.
Also read: Central Vista project to continue amid second wave of Covid-19
Also read: Central Vista: Govt invites bids for Common Secretariat buildings
