Latest news with #KartavyaBhavans
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Business Standard
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
PM Modi unveils India's green HQ for governance: What is Kartavya Bhavan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan-03, a key addition to the government's Central Vista redevelopment project. Positioned as the new hub for India's top ministries, the building is part of a larger plan to consolidate governance under a modern, green, and efficient infrastructure model. 'Kartavya is both the beginning and the destiny… the companion of dreams and the pinnacle of effort,' PM Modi said at the inauguration ceremony. 'Kartavya Bhavan will guide the policies and direction of a developed India.' Why does it matter? Kartavya Bhavan is the first of ten planned Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings. Together, they will bring nearly all key central ministries under one roof, ending decades of administrative sprawl across more than 50 outdated and scattered office locations in Delhi. Quick catch up Kartavya Bhavan-03 spans 150,000 square metres with seven floors and two basements. It will house ministries including Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, Petroleum & Natural Gas, MSME, DoPT, and the Principal Scientific Adviser. The project replaces ageing buildings such as Shastri Bhawan and Nirman Bhawan, some dating back to the 1950s. ALSO READ | All Kartavya Bhavans may be ready in 2 years: Manohar Lal Khattar What's wrong with office spaces? The Central Secretariat Service (CSS) Forum, which represents over 13,000 officers, has written to the Prime Minister's Office expressing serious concern about the design of Kartavya Bhavan's interiors, according to a report by India Today. 'CSS Officers are being allotted less space than mandated, impacting confidentiality and efficiency,' the Forum's General Secretary, Yatendra Chandela, said in a letter to the PMO. Under Secretaries, who often deal with sensitive matters, have reportedly been assigned open seating areas, making confidential calls and discussions potentially audible to junior staff. The Forum described this arrangement as 'demoralising', noting that in older buildings, even Section Officers had access to shared rooms, while Under and Deputy Secretaries had private cabins. The letter called the new layout a 'serious risk to confidentiality.' What are Kartavya Bhavan's green features? Despite these concerns, the government is projecting Kartavya Bhavan as a model for smart, sustainable governance infrastructure. Solar panels on the rooftop will generate over 534,000 units of electricity annually. Rainwater harvesting, zero-discharge waste processing, and energy-efficient HVAC systems aim to reduce consumption and environmental impact. How smart is Kartavya Bhavan? Smart ID-based access, CCTV surveillance, digital workspaces, and a centralised command centre form the digital backbone of the facility. The building targets a GRIHA-4 rating and is designed to cut energy use by 30 per cent, with noise-insulated glass and sensor-controlled lighting to support worker comfort. New secretariat, new vision Kartavya Bhavan is just the first step. Nine more CCS buildings are on track for completion by 2027, and once operational, the government expects to save ₹1,500 crore a year in rental and maintenance costs. PM Modi also announced that the iconic North and South Blocks—long the seat of power—will be turned into public museums named Yuge Yugeen Bharat Sangrahalayas. Bottom line Kartavya Bhavan is meant to embody India's 21st-century governance aspirations—centralised, digital, and sustainable. But as the building begins its new chapter, how it balances smart design with institutional dignity and operational confidentiality remains.
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kartavya Bhawan: PM Modi explains reason behind name of India's new power corridor
NEW DELHI: on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan, the first building under the ambitious Common Central Secretariat (CCS) project, and explained why it carries a name rooted in India's democratic values. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'We gave the name 'Kartavya Bhavan' to this building after a lot of deliberation,' PM Modi said while addressing a gathering at Kartavya Path. 'The names Kartavya Path and Kartavya Bhavan represent the basic values of our democracy and Constitution.' From colonial relics to democratic ideals The Prime Minister said the choice of name marks a clear departure from India's colonial-era administrative culture. For decades, ministries operated from buildings constructed during British rule, like Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, many of which are now over 70 years old and lack basic amenities. 'These buildings lacked space, light, ventilation, and were not built to meet the needs of a modern democratic government,' PM Modi said. 'Important ministries like Home Affairs were functioning from buildings over a century old.' By naming the new power corridor Kartavya Bhavan, Modi said the government is signaling a shift from entitlement to responsibility. "This is not just a name; it's a message. That governance in India is now driven by the spirit of service and duty, not authority and privilege," he said. 'Kartavya Bhavans will frame India's future' The newly inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan-03 will house several key ministries including, home, external affairs, rural development, petroleum & natural gas, MSME, and DoPT, along with the principal scientific adviser's office. 'For decades, administrative work continued in buildings made during British rule,' PM Modi said, pointing to poor working conditions, lack of ventilation, and inadequate facilities in places like Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now PM Modi said that during Amrit Kaal, the next 25 years leading to India's 100th year of independence, policies for a developed India will be framed in these Kartavya Bhavans. Saving taxpayer money, improving efficiency PM Modi said the new infrastructure will help the government save Rs 1,500 crore annually in rent. 'Many ministries are still run from rented buildings. This amount is being spent just to pay rent,' he said. With 1.5 lakh square metres of built-up area and space for 600 cars, the Kartavya Bhavan-03 includes modern amenities such as a crèche, yoga and medical rooms, a café, and over 100 meeting and conference rooms. Two more CCS buildings are set to be completed by next month. More than just a building 'The policies for a developed India during Amrit Kaal will be framed in Kartavya Bhavans,' the PM said, calling the new complex a symbol of India's shift away from its colonial past toward a self-confident future. The Kartavya Bhavan is part of the broader Central Vista redevelopment project, which includes the new Parliament building, the Vice President's Enclave, and the upcoming Executive Enclave, which will house the new PMO and Cabinet Secretariat.
