5-member panel formed to oversee construction of new Parliament building

New Delhi: The Centre has formed a five-member committee to oversee construction of the new Parliament house and to ensure heritage and aesthetics of the complex are maintained. The committee was formed after a request from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla who was given a presentation of the project by the Central Public Works Department, the nodal agency for construction.
The presentation facilitated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs saw design elements, construction work, transplantation of trees, shifting of statues and other issues discussed. Representatives from design consultant for the project HCP and Tata Projects, which has been awarded the contract for building the new Parliament, attended the presentation.

The committee will comprise joint secretaries from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, CPWD and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Apart from the three officers, there will be representation from Tata Projects and HCP. The committee would act as the bridge between the Lok Sabha Secretariat and private contractor. A senior official told ET:

“The committee would ensure that design elements are followed and the heritage character of the old Parliament building is maintained.” Sources indicated that during numerous presentations before MPs and Speaker, concerns were raised about shifting of statues, including the iconic Mahatma Gandhi statue and uprooting of trees. The panel would ensure that the core character of the complex would remain and the contractors would follow the design.

The preparatory work for construction of the new Parliament building has begun. The reception area has been shifted and entrances to the Parliament annexe has been closed. Trees that lined the avenues leading from Parliament House to the annexe are being transplanted. The committee is likely to hold regular meetings from Tuesday.

The construction of the new building is expected to be completed by November 2022. The government wants the contractor to complete the work by August before the special session to commemorate 75 years of Independence.