How amazing is the New Parliament Building?

The new parliament building is under construction as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. Spread across the land of 64,500sq.m. in New Delhi, this monument will capture our Indian heritage highlighting the cultural diversity enouncing the journey of becoming the nation with the largest democracy in the world.

The requirement for the new parliament house began to emerge a decade ago due to the dilapidating condition of the existing parliament. Almost a century old, the existing parliament possesses numerous problems concerning structural issues and space. With the increasing population, the future holds to surge the seat for MP and this lacks the space for their accommodation. The building being so old, the structure has become outdated. The building lacks safety elements and cannot withstand an earthquake. Considering all these issues, the government of India initiated the construction of a new parliament building in 2019, along with other projects in New Delhi aiming to revamp administrative buildings.

With enhanced features instilling the values and culture of the country along with fine amenities, the new parliament building will be dedicated to the country by the 75th year of independence in 2022, promoting ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat' signifying a self-reliant nation. The new parliament will be a triangular structure built at a budget of ₹862 crores. It will be a four-storey building with a seating capacity of 1,272 MPs; this has increased 1.5 times the seating capacity from the current one. The current Parliament building had a seating of a maximum of 545 Lok Sabha seats and a maximum of 245 Rajya Sabha seats; while the new parliament building has a maximum of 888 Lok Sabha seats and a maximum of 384 Rajya Sabha seats. The new parliament will harbor various facilities like a library, a lounge, dining area, multiple committee rooms, and a capacious parking area.

For the construction of the new parliament, several experts have merged to create this beautiful monument. The main contractor for the project is TATA Projects Ltd. Architect Bimal Patel will stage-manage the entire planning of the project, while the designing architect is an Ahmedabad-based firm named HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt Ltd. New Delhi falls in a seismic zone IV; hence the building will be a structure that is earthquake resistant. The building will be strong and will possess a lifespan of more than 150 years. It will not have the iconic central hall that is present in the current parliament building. The construction of the new parliament building would involve around 2000 people directly and 9000 people indirectly. It will also have a large constitution hall portraying the world’s largest democracy and the nation’s rich heritage. The building will assimilate architectural designs featuring our rich diversity in tradition and culture from various parts of the country. It has an open sky area that covers a 2000m2 for a banyan tree. The building utilizes the Dholpur stone of Rajasthan which gives it a classic traditional look. The building will encompass sensors responsible for monitoring the structural condition, incorporated by Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee. A Foucault pendulum will be installed in the Constitutional Gallery area by the National Council of Science Museum, Kolkata. The building will use corrosion-proof steel along with an HDPE membrane being furnished beneath the raft foundation to inspect the ingress of the groundwater.

The construction of a new parliament building has faced numerous challenges since its commencement. Earlier the approval of the project was on halt. After the green signal from the Supreme Court, the project started at a quick speed. The real challenge is its timeline- 21 months target for the completion of the project. To combat this tight schedule, the contractors have deployed the best technologies in creating the masterpiece. Another critical challenge is its location; being in the heart of the country and in the center of the city, the construction should be carried out without obstructing the city or its surroundings. The team has adhered to all the environmental safety protocols, considering the dust emissions and material movements. Bringing the best workforce onboard, the ultimate aim is to complete the project beautifully on time without a single day being lost.

The new parliament building has several benefits in its bag. It is constructed in such a manner by practicing eco-friendly traits, hence emitting a sustainable future. It will save up to 30% electricity and is designed to be approachable for differently-abled, giving them a pleasant experience. The new parliament is believed to save more than ₹ 1000 crore every year for the exchequer. With such meticulous planning observing the intricate details, the new parliament building will be the monument our nation will flaunt while expounding the democracy, culture, values, we harbor within us!