Outlook Business Desk
Kartavya Bhavan, the first of 10 planned buildings under the Central Vista project, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. While this building is complete, the government aims to complete the entire cluster within the next two years to bring all central ministries under one roof.
Kartavya Bhavan is part of the larger Central Vista redevelopment plan, which includes the new Parliament building, the Vice President's Enclave, and the revamp of Rajpath, now called Kartavya Path—symbolising duty over privilege near the nation’s power corridor.
Kartavya Bhavan (CCS‑3) is the first Common Central Secretariat building completed under the Central Vista revamp launched in 2019. It will house key ministries like Home Affairs and External Affairs under one roof, besides departments like Rural Development and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
Kartavya Bhavan‑03 spans 1.5 lakh sq. metres, including two basements covering 40,000 sq. m. and seven above-ground floors. It also features a parking capacity for 600 cars.
Kartavya Bhavan is also equipped with facilities such as a creche, yoga and medical rooms, a cafe, kitchen, and a multipurpose hall. It also features IT-enabled secure offices, ID-based access, electronic surveillance, and a central command centre to support smooth functioning.
The newly inaugurated Building includes 24 main conference rooms (45 seats each), 26 smaller ones (25 seats each), along with 67 meeting rooms and 27 lifts—designed to support large-scale administrative coordination and meetings.
Kartavya Bhavan (CCS‑3) is built with a focus on sustainability, aiming for a GRIHA‑4 rating. It uses 30% less energy, with solar heating, rainwater harvesting, double-glazed facades, and zero-discharge waste systems with on-site waste processing.
Key ministries still operate from ageing buildings like Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, built between the 1950s and 1970s. These are now seen as outdated and inefficient, prompting the shift to modern, centralised offices.
Once all 10 secretariat buildings are ready, the focus will shift to building the Executive Enclave. It will include a new Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Cabinet Secretariat, India House, and the National Security Council Secretariat, completing the Central Vista overhaul.