Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Kartavya Bhavan-3 in Delhi today. Several ministries, including Home and External Affairs, will be shifted here. North and South Blocks will be converted into the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat' Museum.
Kartavya Bhavan-3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the country's first 'Kartavya Bhavan' on Kartavya Path in Delhi today. This building is the first in a series of 10 new central buildings being constructed under the Central Vista Project. Several major ministries, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, will be shifted to Kartavya Bhavan-3. Along with this, the North and South Blocks will be converted into museums. The new building is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and has been designed with the aim of facilitating the smooth functioning of the government.
PM Modi to Inaugurate Kartavya Bhavan-3
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Kartavya Bhavan-3, located on Kartavya Path, at 12:15 PM today. This building is the first building of the Common Central Secretariat (CSS) being constructed under the 'Central Vista Project'. At 6:30 PM, the Prime Minister will also address a public gathering. This new beginning is bringing a major change in Delhi's administrative structure.
What is Kartavya Bhavan and Why is it Special?
Kartavya Bhavan-3 is a grand government building spread over 1.5 lakh square meters on Janpath. It has a total of 10 floors, including the ground floor and two basements. This building has been specially designed to be energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and technology-equipped.
Some of the key features of this building are:
- Parking capacity for 600 vehicles
- 24 large and 26 small conference rooms
- Smart entry system and electronic surveillance
- Command Center, solar panels, and e-vehicle charging stations
- Wastewater reuse and solid waste management
- 30 percent reduction in energy consumption
- Soundproof and temperature-controlled glass windows
This building consumes less energy compared to older buildings and also has state-of-the-art security and surveillance systems.
Which Ministries Will Be Shifted?
The ministries that will be moved to Kartavya Bhavan-3 include:
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Ministry of External Affairs
- Ministry of Rural Development
- Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
- DoPT (Ministry of Personnel)
- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor
These ministries will be shifted here from older buildings like Shastri Bhavan, Krishi Bhavan, Nirman Bhavan, and Udyog Bhavan. These old buildings were constructed between the 1950s and 1970s and are now in a dilapidated condition.
Why Was a New Kartavya Bhavan Necessary?
Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stated that the annual maintenance of the old buildings was proving to be a heavy burden on the government. Many buildings had reached a dangerous state. On the other hand, work was being affected due to a lack of coordination and physical distancing between ministries.
Central Vista Project and Other Buildings
Under the Central Vista Project, there is a plan to construct 10 new Kartavya Bhavans on both sides of Kartavya Path in Delhi. This scheme is an ambitious project to create a common, convenient, and state-of-the-art office space for the ministries and departments of the Government of India.
After Kartavya Bhavan-3, Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2 will also be ready soon. Minister Khattar has informed that their work is in the final stages, and the remaining seven buildings will be completed by April 2027.
The Future of North and South Block
After the construction of the Kartavya Bhavans, when all the ministries are shifted to the new complexes, the North and South Blocks will be converted into museums.
These historic buildings will be transformed into the 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum'. These museums will showcase the journey of India from ancient history to modern India.
Glimpses of the Mahabharata era, the freedom struggle, the making of the constitution, and the development of Indian art, culture, and science will be presented here without disturbing the original structure.
A Big Step Towards Streamlined Administration
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has stated that this change is not just about infrastructure but is part of a comprehensive transformation in administrative practices. The objective of Kartavya Bhavan-3 is to centralize government functions, improve coordination, and ensure agile administration. This will not only increase coordination between ministries but also make processes such as file movement, meetings, and policy formulation more effective and time-bound.
How Much Was Spent and When Will the Project Be Completed?
The cost of the Central Vista Project is estimated to be around Rs 1000 crore. This project is to be completed by 2027. A total of 10 Kartavya Bhavans will be built for all the ministries, which will allow the government's work to be conducted in a single complex.
