Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate India’s new Parliament building on Sunday, May 28, as part of the revamped Central Vista project. The construction of the new building, designed by architect Bimal Patel, began in 2019.

The new building is triangular in shape, reflecting the plot of land it sits on, and also a nod to sacred geometry in various religions. Its design and materials are intended to complement the old Parliament, with the two buildings expected to function as one complex.

Featuring three storeys and a built-up area of 64,500 sqm, the new Parliament building will have a Lok Sabha chamber with 888 seats, expandable to 1,272. The Lok Sabha will be used for joint sittings of both Houses in the absence of a Central Hall, which was the focal point of the old building.

The new building has been constructed using green techniques to reduce electricity consumption by 30 per cent compared to the old one. It is designed to be more space efficient, earthquake-safe, and to function for the next 150 years.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers have been designed with peacock and lotus themes, respectively, and will accommodate increased seating capacity to cater to potential future increases in the number of MPs. The new building also features a Constitution Hall, lounge, dining hall, library, and a central courtyard with a banyan tree.

Constructed using materials from across India, the new building is a showcase of craftsmanship and artistry. It also houses a 16-foot-tall bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi between the old and new buildings.

The cost of the new Parliament remains unknown, with the initial contract of Rs 861.9 crore increasing to Rs 971 crore by the time construction started, and government officials stating the cost has now gone up to Rs 1,200 crore. The government is yet to announce the final completion cost.

The new Parliament building will also exhibit textile installations and pottery items from all Indian states, as well as iconic monuments and yoga asanas. It will also feature guardian statues at all entrances.

The contributions of around 60,000 workers can be seen in the new building, which was constructed during the pandemic, with health clinics and vaccination camps organized for the workers.

Before being chosen as the site for the new Parliament building, the 9.5-acre plot opposite the old Parliament House was earmarked for “recreational use” in the Delhi Masterplan 2021, but the land-use was changed to “Parliament House” in March 2020 by the Delhi Development Authority.