In pics | PM Modi inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan: Massive ‘state-of-the-art’ project spread across1,50,000 sq metres

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Aug 6) inaugurated the Kartavya Bhavan-3, the first of the 10 upcoming buildings of the Common Central Secretariat (CCS). The project, which is located at Kartavya Path in New Delhi, aimed at bringing greater efficiency by bringing various ministries and departments under one roof.

The initiative is part of the Central Vista redevelopment plan to modernise Lutyens’ Delhi. Under the plan, the government has already constructed a new parliament building and the Vice President Enclave. The government has also redeveloped the Kartavya Path, which spans from Vijay Chowk to India Gate.

The first to be inaugurated, Kartavya Bhavan-3, has an area of 1,50,000 square metres with a 40,000 square metres basement and a parking lot for 600 cars. The new building will house state ministries and departments, including the Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, DoPT, Petroleum & Natural Gas ministries, and the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Kartavya Bhavan-3 also has a creche, a yoga room, a medical room, a cafe, a kitchen, and a multipurpose hall. It also houses 24 main conference rooms, each with a 45 seating capacity, and 26 small conference rooms, each with a capacity to seat 25 people, 67 meeting rooms, and 27 lifts.

According to the government, many key ministries currently function from “structurally outdated and inefficient” buildings, including Udyog Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan. These buildings were constructed between the 1950s and 1970s.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Kartavya Bhavan, on the path of duty, is a symbol of our unwavering commitment and continuous efforts toward serving every individual. It will not only help in swiftly delivering our policies and schemes to the people but will also provide a new momentum to the country's development. I am deeply proud to dedicate this building, an example of state-of-the-art infrastructure, to the nation.” The prime minister also met with the engineers and workers involved in the project.

Apart from the Common Central Secretariat, an Executive Enclave will also be constructed to house a new Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Cabinet Secretariat, India House, and National Security Council Secretariat. In the second phase of the Executive Enclave, a new residence for the prime minister will be constructed.