New Delhi: Finishing touches are being given to the new Parliament building for its inauguration by the month-end, said a senior officer familiar with the developments.
“We have been told to handover the building before May 26 for its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2014 on May 26, 2014, Modi took oath as the Prime Minister. He might inaugurate the building that day,” said the officer.
Officials of Lok Sabha, however, it may take some time to finally shift all the offices of Parliament in the new premises. “Even if it is inaugurated on May 26, it is unlikely that the forthcoming Monsoon session, which is scheduled to begin in July, could take place in the new building.
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However, some of the officials of PMO said that a meeting of Speakers from Parliaments of G20 nations may take place in the new building later this year, as India has the G20 presidency for 2023.
The triangular shaped building’s construction started on January 15, 2021 and was to be completed by August 2022. The new Parliament building has three main gates, which have been named as Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar and Karma Dwar.
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The building will have separate entrances for MPs, VIPs and visitors, sources informed further. Another highlight of the building is the Constitution Hall, which has been built to showcase the democratic heritage of the country. A copy of the original Constitution of India is learned to have been kept in the hall.
The new Parliament building will have portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and also of other prime ministers of the country. A portrait of polymath Kautilya is learned to have been installed in the building along with a model of the wheel of Konark’s Sun Temple, sources informed further.
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Built in an area of 64,500 square metres, the new building will house 1,224 MPs and is a four-storey structure. It has a library, multiple committee rooms and dining rooms. Tata Projects has constructed the building at an estimated cost of ₹970 crore.
