The controversial transformation of New Delhi's imperial heart
In short: Once the seat of British imperial power, India's Central Vista is undergoing a massive, multi-billion dollar redevelopment. While the government promises modern efficiency and pedestrian-friendly boulevards, the project has sparked intense debate over heritage loss, pandemic-era priorities, and the bypass of local urban oversight.
The Central Vista Redevelopment Project aims to modernize the 3 km stretch of Rajpath, spanning from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Originally designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker during British rule, the area is being transformed into a contemporary administrative hub. Key features include a new Parliament building, which was inaugurated on 28 May 2023, and a new Central Secretariat designed to house all 51 ministries in a unified complex of ten doughnut-shaped buildings.
The project's scale is immense, with estimated costs reaching approximately ₹13,450 crore (roughly US$1.9 billion as of 2023). Critics have raised significant concerns regarding the timing and transparency of the works. Launched in 2019, the project continued during the 2021 Covid-19 pandemic waves, earning the controversial designation of an 'essential service' while other construction in Delhi halted. Observers also noted that key approvals for the new Parliament were granted during lockdowns when non-governmental members could not attend meetings.
Environmental and regulatory issues form another layer of contention. To facilitate construction, the government utilized the Government Building Act of 189 Му, empowering the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to bypass the New Delhi Municipal Council's municipal building laws. This allowed the project to proceed without certain environmental impact assessments. Furthermore, the ecological cost has been highlighted by reports that 43% of the trees transplanted for the project died, according to statements made by a Union Minister in April 2026.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Central Vista Redevelopment Project
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