New Delhi: The Centre has set the plan for redevelopment of Central Vista and construction of the new Central Secretariat rolling, with changes in the land use stipulations of the earlier plan to make way for the residential complexes in the heart of Delhi for the Prime Minister and the Vice President.The ministry of housing and urban affairs changed land use for a 15-acre plot to the south of Rashtrapati Bhavan and North Block. Earlier it was classified as transportation and parking under Master Plan 2021 and recreational or neighbourhood play area under the Zonal Development Plan.This has now been changed to residential. Sources indicated that this plot would now be a part of the Central Vista redevelopment plan, which includes moving the residential complexes of Prime Minister from 7 Lok Kalyan Marg and Vice President from Maulana Azad Road to the heart of Delhi. The objectives of the project include consolidating, rationalising and synergising government functioning; refurbishing and better equipping the Central Vista Avenue; strengthening cultural institutions in the Central Vista. In February, land and development office of the ministry had written to the Delhi Development Authority, the prime land owning agency in Delhi which decides on land use changes. The gazette notification came after a meticulous process under which DDA called for objections on the land use change. A board of inquiry and hearing was constituted to address the objections. DDA admitted 90 objections and suggestions. After disposing of the objections, the final land use change was notified last week. With the tender awarded, the next project on the anvil is Central Vista redevelopment and construction of Central Secretariat.
