Tunnels to link PM, VP’s homes to new Parliament, entry only for VVIPs

NEW DELHI: Three underground tunnels are being built at the new Parliament construction site which would connect the prime minister’s residence, Vice-President’s house and chambers of MPs to the new Parliament complex, a report said on Thursday.

As per the TOI report, the tunnels will ensure that the security protocols put in place for the VVIPs for entering and exiting Parliament will be less disruptive.

It may be noted that stringent timelines have been set by the government to complete the development and redevelopment of the Parliament building, Common Central Secretariat and Central Vista. While the Central Vista project is expected to be completed by November 2021, the work on the Parliament building is to be completed by March 2022 and the common Central Secretariat by March 2024.

Under the Central Vista project, a new PM House and PMO will come up on the South Block side, while the vice president's house will be constructed on the North side. The MPs’ chambers will be built where the Transport and Shram Shakti Bhawans are currently located.

"In the proposed development at the Central Vista, as a strategy to improve public access in the area for visitors and tourists, the routes of VIPs that need high security are segregated from regular public movement routes,” TOI quoted a source as saying.

The tunnels will be single land and would only be exclusively used by designated persons. Golf carts are expected to be used to commute.

The 'Bhoomi Poojan' ceremony of Central Vista Avenue was performed by Hardeep S Puri, MoS (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs on February 4, 2021.

The Central Vista Avenue starting from North and South Block to India Gate, that includes the Rajpath, its adjoining lawns and canals, rows of tree, Vijay Chowk and the India Gate plaza is a 3 km long stretch.