Year-Ender 2023: Indian democracy marks milestone with new parliament
ANI, the original Parliament House in India, crafted by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, stands as a colonial-era structure that underwent a six-year construction period from 1921 to 1927. Originally designated as the Council House, the building functioned as the residence for the Imperial Legislative Council. Also Read: New Parliament inauguration row: Here's what Indian constitution says about powers of PM and President The demand for a replacement Indian Parliament building had been overdue for quite some time.
As per government records, the existing structure suffers from limited seating capacity for Members of Parliament, deteriorating infrastructure, outdated communication systems, safety issues, and insufficient workspace for employees. The existing Parliament building raises concerns about its structural safety, especially given that it was constructed during a period when Delhi was classified as Seismic Zone-II. However, the current seismic classification for the region is Seismic Zone IV.
The Lok Sabha Hall now boasts an increased capacity of 888 seats, and the Rajya Sabha Hall has also been expanded to accommodate up to 384 members. This enlargement facilitates joint sessions of Parliament, providing a combined seating capacity of up to 1,272 seats and promoting a more inclusive assembly during such sessions. On September 19, the proceedings of the House commenced, marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading a walkathon of MPs from the old building to the new Parliament building.
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