PM Modi inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan

PM Modi inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan

Why in News PM Modi inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan? 

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan-3 in New Delhi. This new building is a part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The building reflects a modern approach to governance and national service. 

What is Kartavya Bhavan?

• About: Kartavya Bhavan-3 is a newly inaugurated government building that forms a significant part of India’s Central Vista redevelopment project. It stands as the first building under the Common Central Secretariat (CCS) plan aimed at reshaping the administrative core of New Delhi. It is designed to serve as a central hub for several key ministries, replacing the ageing infrastructure that was built during the mid-20th century.

• Location: Kartavya Bhavan is located on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, previously known as Rajpath. This avenue stretches from Vijay Chowk to India Gate and has been redeveloped as part of the Central Vista transformation. The building stands near other newly developed structures such as the New Parliament Building and the Vice President’s Enclave.

• Significance: Kartavya Bhavan-3 plays a vital role in reshaping and streamlining central government functions.

• It is the first of ten planned Common Central Secretariat buildings, marking the beginning of a long-term effort to streamline governance.

• • • Kartavya Bhavan creates a unified working zone that boosts coordination, safety, and document flow.
    • It is also part of the broader goal to enhance the working environment of civil servants and reduce unnecessary expenditure on maintenance of scattered buildings.

• Features: Kartavya Bhavan-3 comes with a host of features designed to reflect both functionality and sustainability.

• • Multi-ministry Setup: The building will house critical ministries including Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). It will also include the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
  • Energy-Efficient Design: The structure follows green building norms, incorporating eco-friendly systems such as solar panels, waste management units, and energy-saving fixtures to reduce the carbon footprint.
  • Modern Infrastructure: The interiors are equipped with state-of-the-art communication technology, secure digital networking, and centralized climate control systems, ensuring a world-class work environment for administrative functions.
  • High Security & Smart Access: The building uses advanced surveillance systems, RFID access, and biometric entry for controlled movement within the premises, keeping the integrity of sensitive government departments intact.
  • Space Optimization: With modular design principles, the structure can accommodate more staff in less space, while maintaining comfort and privacy.
  • Connectivity: Its location ensures proximity to Parliament, North Block, South Block, and the Supreme Court, making policy-level engagement faster and more efficient.

Common Central Secretariat (CCS)

• • About: The Common Central Secretariat (CCS) is a purpose-built cluster of office buildings designed to house all 51 central government ministries under one roof. 
    • The project is part of the Central Vista redevelopment plan initiated in 2019. 
    • It features ten office complexes along Kartavya Path in New Delhi. 
    • The CCS aims to improve coordination and reduce dependency on scattered office spaces that now cost taxpayers around ₹1,000 crore annually in rent.
  • Need: Post-independence, important ministries moved into temporary blocks like Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, constructed between 1956 and 1968. These structures were never part of the original Lutyens Plan. Over decades, the ageing offices became congested and inefficient. They occupied almost 90 acres of prime land. Any maintenance and retrofitting incurred huge recurring expenses. Hence, a planned secretariat became necessary.

• Timeline: The redevelopment project began in September 2019 under the Central Vista Redevelopment initiative. The first CCS building was inaugurated by the PM in 2025.

• Now Kartavya Bhavan-1 and Kartavya Bhavan-2 are expected to finish by September 2025, with 88% of work complete. 

• • • CCS‑10 is slated to finish by April 2026, while CCS‑6 and CCS‑7 are scheduled for October 2026. The entire set of ten buildings is projected to be completed by June 2027.

• Cost: The initial construction cost for the first three CCS buildings is approximately ₹3,690 crore, with CCS‑10 alone costing around ₹621 crore.

• Features: The ten CCS buildings will function as a fully modern administrative hub. They will provide adequate space for up to 54,000 government personnel in a secure, sustainable setting.

• • All buildings will interlink via an automated underground people mover, pedestrian walkways, and surface shuttles to allow swift travel between departments.
  • The initial three CCS structures (CCS 1, 2, and 3) are built on land that once hosted the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, now meant for ministries previously spread across multiple old bhawans.
  • Each building incorporates modern communication infrastructure, smart access controls, modular office modules and centralised climate systems ensuring efficient workspace.