Context

• In its 75th year of Independence, India is set to witness a historic moment with the inauguration of the new Parliament House on May 28, 2023.
• After using a Parliament building that is nearly a century old and symbolised a colonial era, India finally has a new structure in independent India.

History of Old Parliament House

• The building, with a diameter of 560 ft and circumference of one-third of a mile, was designed by Sir Herbert Baker, who along with Sir Edwin Lutyens was chosen to design the new imperial capital in Delhi.
• Britain's Duke of Connaught had laid the foundation stone of Parliament House on February 12, 1921, and said it would stand "as the symbol of India's rebirth to yet higher destinies".
• According to archival documents and rare old images, a grand ceremony was held on January 18, 1927 to mark the opening of the majestic building, then called as the CouncilHouse.

The Need of a New Parliament

• Narrow Space
  • Two more floors were added to this building in 1956 to accommodate more staff and other offices.
  • The need for yet more office space led to the construction of the Parliament Annexe in 1975.
  • In 2002, the Parliament Library was added to the complex. For similar reasons, an extension of the Parliament Annexe was constructed in 2016.
• Lack of State-of-Art Utilities
  • Despite these new constructions in the Parliament, the need for modern facilities in the main Parliament House remained unfulfilled.
  • In the present Parliament House, the communications infrastructure and technology are antiquated. The acoustics of all the halls need major improvement.
• Distressed Infrastructure
  • It had to be retrofitted multiple times, which left little space for further improvements.
  • A web of wires is squeezed under covers. The inner ceilings of both the Chambers and the Central Hall were provided with safety nettings to prevent any tiles and plaster from falling.
  • The multiple wirings for computers, air conditioners and security gadgets gave the complex a highly shabby look.
  • In 2012, the Rajya Sabha proceedings had to be adjourned due to a peculiar smell coming out from AC ducts.

Planning of New Parliament

• In 2012, the Speaker, Meira Kumar, stated that the Parliament building was “weeping,” and approved a high-powered committee to look for an alternative complex.
• In 2015, the Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan, wrote to the Minister for Urban Affairs to have a new Parliament building with modern facilities.
• This issue was taken up on priority under the current dispensation led by PM Modi.
• A detailed plan to build a start-of-the-art Parliament was set in motion, and its foundation was laid in December 2020.
• The new parliament building is a part of a larger plan;Redevelopment of Central Vista.

The Central Vista Project

• The Central Vista is a 3 km stretch in the heart of New Delhi that runs from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.
• It is flanked by large green spaces and significant structures such as Parliament, the Secretariat buildings, and the National Archives.
• The Central government is redeveloping the three-km-long Central Vista and Parliament.
• A common Central secretariat will be constructed for all ministries that are currently spread over many buildings across Delhi.
• The Parliament House and North and South Blocks will not be demolished, but their usage may change.
• The rest of the buildings that came up post-1947, including Shastri Bhavan and Krishi Bhavan, are likely to be demolished.

 Features of New Parliament Building

• Spacious Legislative Chambers
  • The new building will have a larger Lok Sabha Hall with a capacity of up to 888 seats and a larger Rajya Sabha hall with a capacity of 384 seats.
  • For joint sessions the Lok Sabha Hall may accommodate up to 1272 seats.
• Optimum Space Utilisation
  • The new Parliament building is designed in a triangular shape since it sits on a triangular plot and has three main spaces -- Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and a Central Lounge.
  • The shape ensures optimum space utilisation for the new building.
  • State-of-the-Art Constitutional Hall: The hall has been given a grad look keeping in mind that it symbolically and physically puts the Indian citizens at the Heart of our democracy.
• Sophisticated Audio-Visual Systems
  • The new building will have large Committee rooms, equipped with the latest audio-visual systems.
  • It will house functional, purpose-designed spaces to facilitate and deliver higher efficiency.
• Superior Library Experiences: The new building library will efficiently serve the members for gathering information from archived material.
• Energy-efficient Parliament: A platinum-rated green building, the new Sansad Bhavan will be symbol of India’s commitment towards environmental sustainability.
• An Embodiment of Indian Heritage: The new building will reflect the vibrance and diversity of modern India, incorporating our cultural and regional arts and crafts.

 Significance of New Parliament House

• Symbol of Vision and Aspirations of India: The new building reflects the aspiration of a country that has evolved significantly since 1947.
• Spirit of Change and Continuity
  • The new building will be another extension of the existing Parliament complex and it will signify the spirit of change and continuity;
  • It will reflect the journey of Indian Parliament from what it was yesterday to what it would be in the future.
• Making of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’: The old building gave direction to independent India, while the new one will witness the making of India as ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Expectations from the New Parliament

• Introspect on Indian Parliamentary Conduct
  • The inauguration of a new Parliament building presents an opportunity for us to seriously introspect on parliamentary conduct to make Parliament more efficient and productive.
  • The trend of increasing disruptions and long periods of deadlock is antithetical to the demand for politics to respond to the complex governance challenges of the time.
• Need to enable a serious environment for Debates and Discussions
  • One hopes that adequate functional space and modern facilities for the members will contribute to reducing friction and enabling serious discussions.
  • In the coming years, as this complex expands, each member will have their own dedicated space for interacting with people from their constituencies.
  • A modern legislature is required to work in tune with the challenges of time. The country has already paid huge costs — social and economic — due to the absence of laws when needed the most.

Conclusion

As a fountainhead of the people’s hopes and aspirations, particularly those of the younger generations, the New Parliament would work as a lighthouse to guide us in our ambitious journey to build ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.’