New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 10 laid the foundation for the new parliament house and said that the new building would become a witness to the creation of self-reliant India.
“If the old Parliament House gave direction to post-independence India, the new building would become a witness to the creation of self-reliant India. If work is done to fulfil the needs of the country in the old Parliament House, then the aspirations of 21st century India will be fulfilled in the new building,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that the coming generations would proudly see the new building as it is being built in Independent India, commemorating 75 years of Independence.
To be completed in 2022, the new building will comprise an area of 64,500 square metres to accommodate any future increase in the number of members for the two houses of Parliament.
Designed in a triangular shape, the new Parliament building will have modern amenities such as a grand constitution hall, lounge for MPs, multiple committee rooms, library, dining areas and ample parking space.
PM Modi said that the need for a new Parliament House has been felt for years. The old building has been continuously upgraded to meet the current needs.
“The number of times the walls have been broken in this process. Sometimes a new sound system, sometimes a fire safety system, sometimes an IT system. To increase the seating area in the Lok Sabha, the walls have also been removed. After so much, this house of Parliament is now seeking rest,” Modi said.
“Usually when democracy is discussed elsewhere, most of the elections, election process, elected members, the composition of their formation, governance, administration and definition of democracy are around these things. In most places, to put more emphasis on this type of system is called democracy. But democracy in India is a ritual. Democracy is the value of life for India, it is the way of life, the nation is the soul of life,” the PM underlined.
