Explained: What's next for India's historic Parliament building? Know the plan
PTC News Desk: The parliament's proceedings will be moved to the brand-new building beginning tomorrow. The key events that took place at the old parliament building include the adoption of the Constitution.
What happens to old Parliament building?
It was finished in 1927 and is 96 years old. However, it has been found over time to be inadequate for present-day requirements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to "every brick" of the old structure today in Lok Sabha, saying MPs will enter the new building with "new hope and confidence."
The magnificent parliament building, created by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, saw not just the country's struggle for independence, but also the country's subsequent rise.
According to government sources, the building will not be demolished, but rather "retrofitted" to provide more functional spaces for parliamentary events.
"The historic structure will be conserved, as it is an archaeological asset of the country," sources further said.
Hardeep Singh Puri, then Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, informed the Rajya Sabha in 2021 that the existing structure will have to be renovated and made available for alternate use.
They stated that the national archives will be relocated to the new parliament building for heritage-sensitive restoration. This will provide more space for the old Parliament building.
According to some reports, a part of the historic structure could be turned into a museum.
New Parliament building of India
The Prime Minister inaugurated the new parliament building in May of this year.
The massive structure can comfortably seat 888 Lok Sabha members and 300 Rajya Sabha members. The Lok Sabha chamber can accommodate 1,280 MPs for a joint sitting of both houses.
The four-story triangular structure has a built-up area of 64,500 square meters. It contains three main gates - Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar - as well as separate entrances for VIPs, Members of Parliament, and visitors.
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