For the first time in the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, the Union Government has invited bids for two Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings that will not feature designs by Bimal Patel's Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, the architectural firm behind the project’s masterplan and several iconic structures, including the new Parliament. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) issued tenders on November 28 for CCS buildings 6 and 7, to be constructed at the old Vice-President’s House site on Maulana Azad Road and Vigyan Bhawan Annexe. These structures will form part of a Defence Enclave catering to officials from the Defence Ministry, DRDO, and armed forces. Unlike earlier projects, the site plans and drawings for these buildings, signed by CPWD Chief Architect Vijay Prakash Rao, do not carry HCP’s stamp. While HCP’s original 2019 masterplan envisioned doughnut-shaped buildings with courtyards for CCS 6 and 7, the new tender specifies rectangular designs, to be detailed by the contractor under an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model. This shift to an EPC model, where contractors handle detailed design and construction, marks a departure from previous phases of the Central Vista project, where CPWD provided detailed HCP designs to contractors. EPC is seen as a cost-effective approach that minimises administrative burdens but reduces control over design nuances. Sources indicate the decision to exclude HCP was made 6-8 months ago, with the government consulting the firm beforehand. Despite the change, the new buildings will align with the broader masterplan and existing CCS buildings, maintaining visual continuity. The use of pre-engineered steel structures for CCS 6 and 7 is expected to expedite construction, with a completion timeline of 18 months. In contrast, earlier CCS buildings constructed with conventional reinforced cement concrete (RCC) began in 2021 but face delays, pushing expected completion from November 2023 to April 2025. HCP, which was appointed as the project’s consultant in 2019 for Rs 2.29 billion, has designed the Central Vista masterplan and key projects such as the new Parliament, the Vice-President’s Enclave, and Kartavya Path. The firm continues to supervise ongoing projects like CCS 1, 2, 3, and 13, and the Executive Enclave. Bimal Patel, a Padma Shri awardee, is also credited with significant projects in Gujarat, including the Gandhi Ashram redevelopment and the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. (The Indian Express)