Authorities say the PM’s present home is “not well-located”, is “difficult to secure” and needs “better infrastructure that is comfortable, efficient, easy to maintain and cost-effective”. — By Philip Kitune
They say it should be located in “close proximity” to his office since road closures during his travels “cause major disruptions to city traffic”. Mr. Guruswamy says Indian prime ministers have always lived in “buildings at the back”. But with his new home, Mr. Modi wants to put himself in the center of Delhi’s power corridor.
“But separation of power has to be physical too. He’s not just making a new home; he’s rearranging the institutions of government. Architecture changes the nature of power.”
Rajpath is a public space popular for recreation and also for protests and candle-light marches.
And even though the government insists that it will remain a public space, critics say it’s unlikely that large gatherings would be allowed because of the proximity to the PM’s house.
Construction work is continuing even as India battles a devastating second wave of Covid-19, which has fuelled further public resentment. The project has been mired in controversy since it was announced in September 2019, with critics saying the money could be better spent on people’s welfare or cleaning up Delhi’s air, which is among the filthiest in the world.
The government rejects those arguments, saying Central Vista will be a major boost to the economy. Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said it will generate “large-scale direct and indirect employment” and make all Indians “proud”.
Besides the PM’s residential quarters, the complex has accommodation for guests, offices, meeting rooms, a theatre and a helipad. A few years ago, an underground tunnel was built to connect it to nearby Safdarjung airport.
“The Indian PM occupies an entire street – in Britain, 10 Downing Street is just a door with a number,” says Delhi-based architect Gautam Bhatia.
