Government of India
The Central Vista currently accommodates various Ministries, Departments, attached and subordinate offices of the Central Government. The total number of Central Government employees working in these buildings are estimated to be around 54,000.
The Common Central Secretariat (CCS) will comprise 10 office buildings and a Central Conference Centre. All the 51 Ministries are proposed to be located at one location to improve coordination, collaboration and synergy. The office spaces are proposed with modern technological features and adequate space with amenities. The present buildings of the Central Vista shall be replaced with modern office buildings with capacity to hold about 54,000 personnel, which will meet the present and future needs of the Ministries/Departments. All these offices are proposed to be connected through a loop of automated underground people-mover, over-ground shuttles and walkways. These buildings will come up through redevelopment of existing Central Secretariat Offices like Udyog Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, IGNCA, National Museum, Vice President Residence etc. located on either side of Rajpath. They will occupy the present plots of existing buildings, leaving around 2 hectares to be added to the green public spaces by taking out irregular protrusions.
The Defence Enclave has also been planned to consolidate the Ministry of Defence's multiple Departments and attached offices, including the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Department of Defence Production, and Offices of the Indian Armed Forces, including the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. The Secretariat will be equipped with modern offices and conferencing facilities in general. All Ministries of the Government of India will be housed in the Secretariat, which will have contemporary offices and conference facilities.
The city planning of New Delhi, specifically the Lutyen’s Bungalow Zone (LBZ) started in 1911 with the shift of the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi. British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker envisaged the Central Vista complex as the centre of administration in India to house all facilities needed for efficient functioning of the Government. Central Vista was originally designed with geometric symmetry considerations with a specified professional route (axis, focal point, nodes and termination). The buildings, namely the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Parliament House, North and South Blocks and the Record Office (named as National Archives later), now listed as heritage buildings, were completed by 1931, along with the India Gate and the green spaces and canals on either side of the Rajpath.
The imperial buildings were unquestionably claimed by the people of India as the seat of the Government of India after independence. The most important Ministries were housed in the North and South blocks. Some military barracks were transformed as offices after being established as temporary establishments during World War II.
Post-independence, the coherence in planned design has been compromised, over the course of the last seven decades. Central Secretariat buildings such as Udyog Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Rail Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan were constructed during 1956-1968 to cater to the increased demand for office spaces for the Central Government Ministries. These later additions were built to address the immediate needs but not in accordance with the Lutyens’ original Master Plan.
Only 39 of India's 51 ministries are housed in the Central Vista now, with ₹1,000 crore spent each year on rented space outside the Central Vista to accommodate the others. In certain circumstances, the same ministry has offices in multiple buildings, both within and outside of the Central Vista. The dispersion of ministry offices across Delhi impedes administrative effectiveness and increases operational costs and energy usage.
The Common Central Secretariat would hold contemporary offices, conferencing, and archival facilities for all ministries of the Indian government, including 10 office buildings, a Central Conference Centre, and an addition to the National Archives. All of the work on the Central Vista is being done in a way that respects the Vista's original layout and architectural character.
Most of the buildings in the Central Vista area are more than 50-60 years old, and are approaching end of their service life. These buildings have shortage of office spaces, parking, amenities and services. Recurring costs of modernization and retrofitting/refurbishing the existing spaces and their infrastructure is a burden on the exchequer. Some of the challenges have been stated below. Further, the current administrative buildings at Central Vista do not make efficient use of precious land in the heart of New Delhi. Approximately 90 acres of land are occupied by what were meant to be temporary barracks (known as hutments), now being used as offices.
Only 39 out of 51 Ministries of the Central Government are fully/partially housed in the Central Vista and various Ministries and Departments are accommodated in rented office spaces outside, which cost around ₹1,000 crores as recurring annual expense on the exchequer.
The current structures were modified to accommodate the immediate requirement for working space following independence. They were never intended to fulfil the demands of a rapidly expanding economy. As a result, these structures face congestion. For instance, overcrowding at the entrance gate and drop-off places, as well as a lack of suitable parking spaces (ground and underground both), narrow entrance halls and reception areas, cramped lift lobbies and narrow staircases
Some Ministries have offices split between different buildings, within the Central Vista and outside. This reduces administrative efficiency and causes multiple movements of officials and documents adding to traffic congestions and pollution.
The current ministry buildings employ about 54,000 people on a regular basis. The security difficulties are growing by the day due to a lack of space and effective floor planning. Further, the buildings have legacy security systems, which need an upgrade to sustain the growing footfall in these buildings.
Buildings constructed around 100 years ago such as North and South Blocks are heritage buildings and need renovation and retrofitting as New Delhi has been reclassified to highly sensitive Seismic Zone IV. Over time, unplanned additions to utilities such as water supply pipes, sewer lines, air conditioning, firefighting, and CCTV have caused seepages and destroyed the building's overall aesthetics. Numerous new electric cables have been installed, posing a possible fire hazard as well as a slew of other safety concerns.
The buildings have limited dining, restroom, and female hygiene and refreshment zones, among other services. The facilities aren't Divyang (disability) friendly as well.
The proposed Master Plan aims to provide modern, sustainable and upgraded facilities for housing all the Ministries/Departments and necessary Attached and Subordinate offices in 10 CCS buildings to bring administrative efficiency, preserve the Vista’s architectural characteristics, protect its heritage buildings/character and expand the public spaces. The objective of building Common Central Secretariat is to improve the coordination, collaboration and synergy among various organs of the Central Government that will boost productivity and obviate the need for unnecessary travel of documents and officials from the offices spread over different parts of the city that will reduce congestion and pollution as well. Further, administrative efficiency will be brought through highly functional and purpose designed office infrastructure. Shifting all Central Government offices in CCS buildings will get various Ministries/ Departments or their Attached/ Subordinate offices vacate rented accommodations which will save around ₹ 1,000 crore per annum. Read More
Common Central Secretariat has been planned with the principle of Transit Oriented Development. All CCS buildings will be connected by secure underground Automated People Mover (APM) at basement level from two Metro stations viz. Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan, which are located on Yellow and Purple lines of Delhi Metro. Further, a Shuttle service at-grade will connect all CCS buildings and other facilities on the Central Vista. This will increase the use of public transport, thereby promoting sustainability and improved air quality. Consolidating the Central Secretariat will also allow integrated use of building systems such as Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) through Building Management System (BMS), which will increase overall energy efficiency and reduce costs of operations and maintenance. Read Less
