New Delhi, August 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi, marking a significant step in the government’s ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project, which aims to bring central ministries and departments under one integrated complex for improved administrative efficiency.

Accompanied by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the Prime Minister also inspected the newly constructed facility, which represents the first in a series of Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings planned under the project.

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Kartavya Bhavan-03 is a state-of-the-art complex spanning over 1.5 lakh square metres, equipped with modern conference rooms, advanced surveillance systems, and cutting-edge amenities. The building will house key ministries including:

• Ministry of Home Affairs
• Ministry of External Affairs
• Ministry of Rural Development
• Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
• Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)
• Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) will also operate from this facility.

The Central Vista project envisions the construction of 10 new secretariat buildings, aiming to replace outdated infrastructure currently used by central ministries. Many of these ministries are still operating from aging buildings such as Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, built between the 1950s and 1970s. These older buildings have been deemed structurally outdated and administratively inefficient by the government.

Minister Khattar noted that during the transitional phase, offices from these buildings will temporarily relocate to locations such as Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Minto Road, and Netaji Palace for a period of two years.

While much of the administrative hub is being revamped, a few iconic buildings will be retained, including the National Museum, National Archives, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan (MEA), Dr. Ambedkar Auditorium, and Vanijya Bhawan.

Originally, the first three CCS buildings were scheduled for completion by November 2023, but the entire Central Vista Secretariat project is now expected to be fully operational by mid-2027.