Things to know about India’s new parliament building | Fusion - WeRIndia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s new Parliament building yesterday and dedicated it to the nation.

Here are some interesting things to know about the new Parliament building:

• The new Parliament building is characterized by its triangular shape.
• It has been designed to honour the sacred geometry found in various religions while also maximizing the use of the triangular plot of land it occupies.
• Architect Bimal Patel explains that the new building is intended to complement the old Parliament and function as part of a unified complex.
• With three storeys and a built-up area of 64,500 square meters, the new building boasts a larger Lok Sabha chamber with 888 seats. Also, it is expandable to accommodate up to 1,272 members.
• The Lok Sabha will serve as a venue for joint sittings in the absence of a Central Hall, which was a focal point in the previous building.
• The new Parliament building features three ceremonial entrances, each designated for the President, Vice-President, Lok Sabha Speaker, and Prime Minister.
• The public entrance, including access for Parliament tours, is expected to be located on Parliament Street.
• Built with eco-friendly techniques, the new structure aims to reduce electricity consumption by 30% compared to its predecessor. It also has rainwater harvesting and water recycling systems.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ensures its functionality for the next 150 years.
• Considering Delhi’s seismic zone classification, the new building has been engineered to withstand earthquakes, addressing concerns about the vulnerability of the old Parliament Building.
• The Lok Sabha chamber showcases a peacock theme. It has intricate designs inspired by the national bird’s feathers adorning the walls and ceiling, complemented by teal carpets.
• The Rajya Sabha chamber, on the other hand, incorporates lotus motifs and features red carpets.
• In both chambers, each Member of Parliament (MP) will have a touch screen on their desk, and two MPs will share a bench.
• The Rajya Sabha chamber can accommodate 384 MPs, a significant increase from the previous capacity of 250, providing flexibility for future changes due to delimitation.
• In addition, the new building includes a Constitution Hall documenting India’s democratic journey, lounge areas, a dining hall, a library, and a central courtyard with a banyan tree.
• Six additional committee rooms and 92 offices for the Council of Ministers have been incorporated.
• Materials from various regions of India have been employed for the interior and exterior. For instance, sandstone from Sarmathura and granite from Lakha village.
• Skilled craftsmen from Mumbai contributed to the wooden architecture design, while Bhadohi weavers crafted traditional hand-knotted carpets.
• The iconic 16-foot-tall bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi, sculpted by Ram V Sutar, remains positioned between the old and new buildings.
• The exact cost of the new Parliament building remains undisclosed. However, initial estimates were around ₹971 crores, which escalated to ₹1,200 crores. The cost included the expenses for artwork procured by the Culture Ministry.
• Embracing digitization, all records, proceedings, and business-related activities will be stored digitally. Besides, the building showcases galleries exhibiting Indian textiles, pottery, and iconic monuments from across the country.

The new Parliament building serves as a testament to the contributions of approximately 60,000 workers involved in its construction.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the project implemented health clinics and vaccination camps for on-site workers.

Previously designated for recreational use, the plot opposite the old Parliament House was transformed into a new symbol of democracy, representing India’s progress and aspirations.

Image Credit: Narendra Modi, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Source: YouTube

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Parliament_Building.jpg