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Indian PM Modi's Ambitious Project to Replace Colonial Parliament Building OK'd by Top Court

© REUTERS / ADNAN ABIDIConstruction workers walk past a hoarding featuring India's new parliament building outside its construction site in New Delhi, India, December 10, 2020.
Construction workers walk past a hoarding featuring India's new parliament building outside its construction site in New Delhi, India, December 10, 2020. - Sputnik International
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In December 2020, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of a new "Indianised" parliament building in New Delhi. The project worth $2.6 billion focuses on renovating the entire "Central Vista" area of the Indian capital that was originally designed by British architects.

The Supreme Court of India has responded to petitions challenging an extravagant renovation project, siding with the redevelopment of the Central Vista area on Tuesday.

A worker walks past a banner at the boundary of the new Indian Parliament house construction site in New Delhi on December 10, 2020.  - Sputnik International
All You Need to Know About Delhi Getting a New Parliament Building Under Narendra Modi Gov't
The posh area located in the heart of the Indian capital is a three km stretch, flaunting British-era buildings including the parliament, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the president's residence), and the India Gate war memorial. 

Challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to redevelop the colonial architecture, the petitioners raised questions over the permission granted for the change in land use.

"We hold that there are no infirmities in clearances given, change in land use", a three-judge bench said in a majority verdict, giving the central government a green light to go forward with the project.

This is the second time India's top court has ruled in favour of the Central Vista endeavour. In April 2020, the Supreme Court refused to stay the project after a petitioner argued the reconstruction would deprive people of enjoying highly treasured open and green spaces.

In a bid to reflect how modern, developed, and self-reliant India is 73 years after gaining independence, the new parliament building will "showcase the cultural diversity of the country", as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla told the media earlier.

​The construction of a new parliament building, undertaken by one of India's top construction firms – Tata Projects Limited – is expected to be completed by 2022.

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