Centre appoints Gujarat-based architecture firm FOR MAKEOVER OF PARLIAMENT & RAJPATH

NEW DELHI: Gujarat-based architecture firm HCP Designs has won the consultancy bid for the Centre's ambitious project to redevelop the Central Vista, including Parliament and Rajpath, and develop a Common Central Secretariat for various ministries, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday.

The firm, which will be paid Rs 229.75 crore for consultancy services, will prepare the master plan of the project, including designs, cost estimation, landscape and traffic integration plans, and parking facilities among others, he said at a press conference.

HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt Ltd, based in Ahmedabad, is led by architect Bimal Patel and has developed several projects, including the Sabarmati Riverfront Development where Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently held a mammoth event to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. It has also developed the Central Vista at Gandhinagar and the Mumbai Port Complex.

On the cost of the project, the Union housing and urban affairs minister said usually, the consultation fee is around three per cent of the total project cost. However, sources in the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) said the project cost may increase due to different aspects. The development or redevelopment of Parliament will be done by August 2022 when India celebrate's its 75th Independence Day. By next year, the Central Vista will be redeveloped and the common Central Secretariat will be built by 2024, as per plan.

Puri, who was accompanied by ministry Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra and CPWD Director General Prabhakar Singh, said a total of six bids were received, and HCP Design's selection was made by a six-member jury led by Director of the School of Planning and Architecture PS N

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with Union Housing and Urban Affairs secretary Durga Shanker Mishra (L) and CPWD Director General Prabhakar Singh (R) during a PC in New Delhi, Friday Rao. eral buildings such as the

The minister, however, Shastri Bhawan, the Nirman made it clear that the facade Bhawan, the Krishi Bhawan of the 90-year-old Parliament and the Udyog Bhawan may building, and North and South be razed.the government has blocks, which are heritage not taken a decision on it yet. buildings, will not be touched "It's a very a major project while redeveloping the Central which will be executed on mission-mode... Vista, an over three-km stretch the time has now from Rashtrapati Bhavan to come to build modern, worldclass, India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi. energy-efficient buildings

To facilitate the new Common which will be defining the characteristic Central Secretariat, sev- of Delhi as a leading world capital for the next 200 years," Puri told reporters.

He said that the revamp project will used the best technology to make Delhi a worldclass city. The minister said the government will go through public consultations till the tendering process for selecting a contractor is complete.

It will also engage various stakeholders such as heritage experts, urban and traffic specialists while executing the ambitious project of the Modi government, Puri said. "At present, our government offices are strewn all over Delhi... We want all essential government offices at one place," Puri said, adding that the new buildings will be energy efficient and modern work places.

Besides HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd, five other firms -- CP Kukreja Architects, Sikka Associates Architects, INI Design Studio, Arcop Associates Pvt Ltd and Architect Haffez Contractor -- participated in the bidding process.