Central Vista: New PMO will have three floors; bids invited for India House, PMO & Executive Enclave

The Modi government has invited pre-qualification bids for the construction of the three-floor Prime Minister Office (PMO), India House along with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and Executive Enclave under the Central Vista redevelopment project, National Herald has learned.

As per the documents, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) which comes under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, the project will cost around Rs 1,171 crore to the public exchequer. And the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

"Modi government wants to showcase the Central Vista as their achievement to the world and to the public within the country also ahead of the next general election in 2024," said a person in the know of the development project.

According to the project plan, the residence of the Prime Minister will have three floors in addition to the basement and ground floors. The new PMO will have a floor height of 4.75 meters, reads the plan.

News agency PTI reported that that the new Cabinet Secretariat will have the the same building structure.

As per the plan the new India House – which will be used as a conference facility like the Hyderabad House – will have one floor in addition to the basement and ground floor.

“The (Executive) Enclave will be designed to improve potency and functioning through carefully planned formation of different departments with supporting facilities, this will ensure prime security and excellent interconnectivity,” said the pre-bidding documents.

As per the condition laid down by the CPWD, an interested construction firm submitting a bid for the project should have an average annual gross turnover of Rs 586 crore on civil and/or electrical construction works during the immediate last three consecutive financial years.

Interestingly, joint ventures/consortium and special purpose vehicles will not be accepted for the construction of the new PMO, India House, and the NSCS.

“The existing structures on plot number 36/38 are to be demolished before the start of new construction. The existing boundary wall also needs to be demolished and new boundary wall shall be constructed as per design and drawings provided by the department,” the bid document states.

Infrastructure firm Kamladityya Construction Pvt Ltd had emerged as the lowest bidder for the construction of the Vice President Enclave under the Central Vista redevelopment project.

While Larsen & Toubro Limited had been awarded the contract for the construction and maintenance of the first three buildings, Tata Projects Limited is constructing a new parliament building.

Founded in 1865, the Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited is executing the redevelopment work of the Central Vista Avenue stretching from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate.

The redevelopment of the Central Vista – the nation’s power corridor – envisages a new parliament building, a common central secretariat, revamping of the 3-km Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate, new office and residence of the Prime Minister of India.