PM Modi inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan-03, the first building of the upcoming Common Central Secretariat (CCS) project, a key component of the Central Vista redevelopment plan aimed at improving bureaucratic efficiency by bringing multiple ministries under one roof.

Kartavya Bhavan-03 will house the Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, DoPT, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and the Principal Scientific Adviser’s Office. The remaining nine CCS buildings will be constructed in phases, with Buildings 2 and 3 set for completion by next month, and others including CCS-10 and CCS-6/7 scheduled for completion by April 2026 and October 2026, respectively.

Currently, many ministries operate from aging infrastructure such as Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, all constructed between the 1950s and 1970s, which the government has termed “structurally outdated and inefficient.”

As part of the transition, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday that offices will temporarily shift to four alternate locations — Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Minto Road, and Netaji Palace — for two years during construction.

Some key structures will be retained, including the National Museum, National Archives, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, Dr Ambedkar Auditorium, and Vanijya Bhawan, as they are either new or architecturally significant.

In addition to the Secretariat buildings, the Central Vista redevelopment includes the newly built Parliament, Vice President Enclave, a redeveloped Kartavya Path, and the upcoming Executive Enclave that will house the new PMO, Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Council Secretariat, and a future Prime Minister’s residence in its second phase.

The initiative marks a significant step toward modernizing India’s administrative infrastructure. (Agencies)