Central Vista project to continue, Delhi High Court refuses stay

Delhi High Court threw out a PIL against the construction activities of Central Vista Project, today morning, saying the plea is motivated and not a genuine PIL. The court calling the project is of national importance and needs to be completed by Nov 2021, imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner. The court also observed that as the workers are staying on the site, no question of suspending the construction arises in light of Covid-19. The DDMA order in question nowhere prohibits construction work and the legality of the project has been upheld by the Supreme Court. A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed the plea citing it to be motivated.

The construction of the ₹ 20,000 crore project in the heart of the national capital has been brought under the ambit of “essential services” and environmental clearance has been given for PMO complex and Vice President’s residence. The project involves construction activities on Rajpath and surrounding lawns from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The Central Vista was designed as the capital of British India and envisioned to be the ‘living centre of administration’. Today, the Central Vista houses only 22 out of the 51 Ministries of the Government of India, due to lack of adequate office spaces. The public space and landscape of the Vista were not designed for heavy public use and are quite stressed. A comprehensive upgrade of facilities and infrastructure is needed to improve public space and to assist the administrative and legislative functions of the Government of India. The proposed master plan will strengthen the Central Vista as an icon for governance, a grand public space and a treasured part of India’s heritage. The plan will provide modern, sustainable and upgradeable facilities for administration, cultural institutions and public space. It will also restore the Vista’s architectural character, protect its heritage buildings, expand and improve public space, and extend the Central Vista axis. The proposal will revive the formal order, grandeur and symmetry of the place, while creating space to consolidate all the essential functions of the Government of India.

The project, which is estimated to be completed by 2024, is being executed by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It is is estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crores. Out of this, around Rs. 1,000 crores will be used for the construction of a new Parliament Building.