Another 'India House' To Come Up, At Central Vista

The proposed Executive Enclave close to South Block in the Central Vista would get a building, which will be used for high-level meetings with foreign dignitaries.

According to sources, this building may be named "India House" and will be on the lines of Hyderabad House where diplomatic meetings are currently held.

The Enclave will have the Cabinet Secretariat, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and PMO as well.

The Rs 477-crore Central Vista Avenue is part of the Central Vista Revamp Project aimed at giving Delhi’s power corridor a complete makeover.

The work pace for the mega project has picked up to ensure the Central Vista Avenue is completed in time to greet visitors for the Republic Day parade next year.

Sources said the designs for the "India House" are at a final stage and the tenders for these would be floated soon. The plan has been made to ensure that there is minimum movement of VIPs and dignitaries for official engagements in the heart of Delhi.

This will also minimise traffic restrictions in Lutyens Delhi, which people currently face during such visits. So far, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has bid out tenders for three projects — New Parliament, redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue (Rajpath) and three office buildings for Common Central Secretariat — and the bidding process is under way for the Vice President Enclave.

The next tender to be floated is for the Executive Enclave. While India House in London is the official address of the Indian Embassy, another India House was set up in July 1905 as a hostel in North London.

With the patronage of lawyer Shyamji Krishna Varma, it was opened to promote nationalist views among Indian students in Britain and became a hub for political activism for overseas revolutionary Indian nationalism during the colonial rule.

Sources said the proposed “India House” would come up close to the Cabinet Secretariat and NSCS, and these would be big buildings. The other side of the Enclave would have the PMO, which can accommodate over 500 personnel.