The new multi-billion-dollar Parliament building in India will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, 2023. The building has been constructed by Tata Projects Ltd and designed by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management. It can house over 1,200 MPs and has a seating capacity of 888 for the Lok Sabha and 300 for the Rajya Sabha.
The new Parliament building is part of the redevelopment of the Central Vista, the nation’s power corridor. It represents the spirit of self-reliant India or Aatmanirbhar Bharat, according to the government. The new building has been constructed as part of a redevelopment project that is aimed at revamping the British-era administrative offices in the capital and it is estimated to cost $2.8bn.
The new Parliament building will make every Indian proud. This video offers a glimpse of this iconic building. I have a special request- share this video with your own voice-over, which conveys your thoughts. I will re-Tweet some of them. Don’t forget to use #MyParliamentMyPride. pic.twitter.com/yEt4F38e8E
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2023
One of the key differences between the old and new buildings is that the new building will be spread out across three times the area of the old parliament building. The old building had 543 seats in the Lok Sabha and 250 seats in the Rajya Sabha. In contrast, the new building will have larger and more comfortable seating arrangements, along with state-of-the-art facilities.
India’s new parliament building has become controversial due to several reasons. The main opposition Congress and 18 other opposition parties have declared a boycott of the building’s inauguration ceremony, scheduled for the coming weekend, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting democracy by opening the building himself.
The building has also been criticised by environmental and civil society groups for its high cost. Critics have called it an “expensive vanity project” for the prime minister. However, the government defended its decision to go ahead with the construction, citing the old building’s deteriorating condition and the need to avoid further delays and associated liabilities.
