SC upholds change in land use for Central Vista project

A security personnel walks at a checkpoint at the entrance of the Rashtrapati Bhavan under heavy smog conditions in New Delhi. PIC/AFP

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the decks for the ambitious Central Vista Project, which covers a 3-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi, by upholding the environmental clearance and the notification for change in land use.

The Central Vista revamp, announced in September 2019 envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with a seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, which is to be constructed by August 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024 under the project. A three-judge bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar, by 2:1 majority, held that the grant of environmental clearance and the notification for change in land use for the project was valid.

Justice Khanwilkar, writing the judgment for himself and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, also directed that the project proponent set up smog tower and use anti-smog guns at the construction site for the Central Vista project. Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the third judge on the bench, also agreed on the issue of award of project. He, however, disagreed with the judgment on change of land use and on grant of environmental clearance for the project. Agencies

'Misplaced priorities of a whimsical autocrat'

Hardeep Singh Puri, Union minister
'Delhi is on course to becoming a world class capital city and in the first step by the time nation completes 75 years of its Independence in 2022 a new Parliament building will be ready reflecting the aspirations of new India'

Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress chief spokesperson
'The '13,450-crore Central Vista Project is not a legalistic issue but a case of misplaced priorities of a whimsical autocrat seeking to etch his name in the annals of history with cement and mortar'

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