The Central Vista Renovation Project is an ongoing redevelopment project
sponsored by the Government of India to revitalize the central administrative
area of the Indian capital New Delhi, called "Central Vista", along the
Rajpath from Raisina Hill to India Gate.
Amid security concerns and upcoming requirements, proposals for new structures
began to emerge after independence. Scheduled between 2020 and 2024, as of
2020 the project aims to revitalize the 3 km (1.9 mi) long Rajpath between
Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate, north and south by building a new common
central secretariat to house all ministries Convert the blocks into publicly
accessible museums. A new Parliament House adjacent to the current one with
increased seating capacity for future expansion, new residence and office for
the Vice President and Prime Minister adjacent to the North and South Blocks.
The cost of the Central Vista renovation project, which also includes a common
Central Secretariat and Special Protection Group (SPG) building, has been
estimated at ₹13,450 crore (US$1.96 billion). The plan did not include the
proposed PMO because of pending land-use change and litigation issues.
Many controversies also came to the fore regarding the Central Vista
renovation project. Many questions were raised by some opposition parties,
environmentalists and heritage lovers like putting extra burden on the country
during the pandemic, or uprooting of trees older than 100 years and lack of
transparency etc.
A petition was also filed in the Delhi High Court to stay the project, which
was rejected by the court with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
There has been a demand from time to time to give Delhi the status of World
Heritage City. Its efforts were also made from the year 2008. Documents were
officially submitted to UNESCO in 2014 by the state government and INTACH, but
the nomination was withdrawn by the central government in 2015. In 2018,
Ahmedabad got the distinction of being India's first World Heritage City.
Delhi has been a major center of power for centuries, which has seen the rise
and fall of many kingdoms. These dynasties established new cities or capitals
here at different times. Of these, the seven cities whose names are
specifically taken are Lalkot, Mehrauli, Siri, Tughlaqabad, Firozabad, Deen
Panah and Shahjahanabad.
After these seven cities, an eighth city was built which was named New Delhi.
When the British Government decided to shift its capital from Calcutta, the
third Delhi Durbar was established near Kingsway Camp and the then ruler King
George V laid its foundation stone there on 12 December 1911. Later
considering that place as not suitable, the foundation stone was installed in
the hills of Raisina. This new city was planned by British architects Sir
Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. It took two decades to complete the plan,
after which Delhi was officially declared the capital on 13 February 1931.
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