PM house in new Central Vista gets green signal

The environment ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has granted the necessary clearance for the construction of the Prime Minister's and Vice President's new residences. According to Central Public Works Department, the nodal agency for the Central Vista Project, the buildings also include a Common Central Secretariat and the Special Protection Group building. The work on the new Parliament has been scheduled to be completed by November 2022, the vice-president's enclave by May 2022, and the PM's residence and the SPG building by December 2022. The cost of the project, which also includes a Common Central Secretariat, has been estimated at ₹13,450 crore. The plan, which is being handled by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, involves the construction of a new Parliament building in place by India's 75th Independence Day in 2022, while the project, which includes constructing 11 administrative buildings to house all the government ministries, is slated to be commissioned by 2024. Tata Projects Limited has tasked with the construction of the new Parliament complex. The EAC conditionally approved new terms of reference for the development or redevelopment of common central secretariat buildings, a central conference centre, the PM's residence, VP's enclave and a building for the Special Protection Group (SPG). Under the Central Vista project, the PM's residence will be shifted behind the existing South Block, while the VP's residence is proposed to be relocated exactly behind North Block. The plan also includes razing buildings like Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan that house important government ministries to build a common secretariat for about 70,000 central government employees currently located across 30 buildings.