National Emblem crowned on India’s new Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the National Emblem cast on the roof of the new Parliament building.

The National Emblem

• Cast at the top of the Central Foyer of the new Parliament building, the 6.5-metre-high National Emblem is made of bronze, and weighs 9,500 kg.
• A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6,500 kg has been constructed to support the Emblem.

The building’s interiors

• The new building will have six granite statues of important personalities, four galleries each for the two Houses of Parliament, three ceremonial foyers, three India galleries, and one Constitution gallery.
• Each wall in the building will have a dominant theme — dedicated, for instance, to the contribution of tribal leaders, or to showcasing the contribution of women.
• Displays including a mix of portraits, illustrative arts, installations, sculptures, and decorative art will frame storylines.

Architectural style

• Bimal Patel of HCP Designs, Ahmedabad, is the architect in charge of the building, which is triangular in shape, and incorporates architectural styles from around India.
  • The building is coming up adjacent to the existing Parliament complex, and is of almost the same size.
• Seating capacity: The new Parliament House will have a seating arrangement of 888 members in the Lok Sabha. At present, India has 543 Lok Sabha seats.
  • Similarly, 384 members will be able to sit in the Rajya Sabha of the new Parliament House, which currently has 245 seats.
  • When a joint meeting of the two houses is convened at the new Parliament House, the hall earmarked for it will have a seating arrangement of 1,272 members. At present, the joint meeting of the two Houses is held at the Centre Hall with only 430 seats.
  • The new Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha halls will have increased seating capacities (888 and 384 seats, respectively) in anticipation of an expanded Parliament; a 25-year-old freeze on increasing state-wise distribution of seats ends in 2026.
• The building will have an open-sky area of 2,000 sq metres for a banyan tree.

Cost of the project

• The new Parliament building project was awarded to Tata Projects for Rs 971 crore.
  • The estimated project cost has shot up by nearly 24 per cent to about Rs 1,200 crore due to additional works, changes in construction plan, and pandemic-related delays.
• The building is part of the Central Vista Project, which also includes a joint central secretariat, revamp of the Rajpath, a new Prime Minister’s residence, a new Prime Minister’s Office, and a new Vice-President’s enclave.

The current Parliament building

• The present Parliament House was inaugurated on January 18, 1927. Its architectural work was entrusted to Sir Herbert Baker.
• The giant circular building with its 144 sandstone columns was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, who also designed the heart of Delhi – from the seat of the government in the North Block to the iconic Connaught Place.
  • Sir Herbert Baker wanted the Parliament House to be triangle-shaped. A central hall should be built in between.
• But then British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens opposed it. He had suggested shaping it round in his proposal. Ignoring Herbert Baker's suggestion, the British had accepted Edwin Lutyens' proposal.
• The existing Parliament building will be conserved as an archaeological asset of the nation.