New Parliament Features

The construction of India’s original parliament building was completed in 1927, but over the years, it has been deemed inadequate to meet the evolving needs of the government. Recognizing this, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed resolutions to construct a new parliament building. On December 10, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new structure. The new parliament building aims to address the limitations of the old one. It will have the capacity to accommodate 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha, a significant increase from the previous capacities of 543 and 250, respectively. Built over an area of 64,500 square metres, the new triangular-shaped building will house the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, the Central Lounge, and offices of constitutional authorities. Architecturally, the new building draws inspiration from notable heritage structures such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Lok Sabha Chamber is designed in the likeness of India’s national bird, the Peacock, while the Rajya Sabha Chamber bears resemblance to the National Flower, the Lotus. The construction project includes the redevelopment of the Shram Shakti Bhawan, which will house around 800 chambers for Members of Parliament. Efforts are being made to ensure that the old building’s historical heritage is preserved and that there is no impact on the visibility of the original Parliament House. The new building will boast state-of-the-art features, including digital systems and touch screens at each seat, rainwater harvesting, water recycling systems, and 100% UPS power backup.

It will also incorporate a Constitution Hall, a library, a dining room, and ample parking for the members. The design of the new parliament building was undertaken by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design and Management Pvt Limited, while Tata Projects secured the contract for its construction. The project is part of the broader Central Vista redevelopment plans initiated by the government.