New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the new parliament building at the heart of Delhi will be a “symbol of a new and self-reliant India”. He laid a foundation stone to the new Parliament building on Thursday.

The proposed four-storied building over 13 acres, a stone’s throw from Rashtrapati Bhavan, is the highlight of the Government’s ambitious ₹ 20,000-crore Central Vista project. There are plans to finish the building before the country’s 75th Independence Day in 2022.

On the occasion Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address said that “It will be a rich testament to India’s cultural heritage and symbolize the aspirations of a new India”. Nearly 200 dignitaries from home and abroad attended the ceremony. “Today is a historic day. Today is a day that in a way is like the foundation stone of our India. If the current Parliament building is one that gave direction to an Independent India since 1947, then the new Parliament will prove to be a testament to a new and Atma-Nirbhar Bharat,” Modi said.

Reminiscing about the old parliament building, PM Modi said, “It was an emotional day for me when I had the opportunity to be a part of this temple of democracy. I remember bowing down upon my first visit”. The current parliament building, built a century ago, has “served in shaping India”, he said, adding, “It has undergone several renovations… but it has reached its capacity. It is now seeking rest”.

Karnataka’s Sringeri Math priests performed the rituals for the “Bhoomi pujan” at the building site. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also offered prayers during the ceremony, which was followed by a “Sarva Dharma Prarthana” or inter-faith prayer.

Those attending the ceremony included Union Ministers, MPs, foreign envoys and religious leaders.  Industrialist Ratan Tata, who’s Tata Projects has the contract for the new parliament building, was also present.

The new building will seat 888 members in the Lok Sabha Chamber with an option to increase to 1,224 Members during Joint Sessions. The Rajya Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 384 members an expanded capacity in view of future requirements. Each Member of Parliament will be provided with a 40 sq m office space in the redeveloped Shram Shakti Bhawan, which will be completed by 2024. The new building will also showcase the country’s glorious heritage, with contributions from artisans and sculptors from across the country.

The Central Vista Plan has been challenged in the Supreme Court, which pulled up the Government last week for “pushing ahead aggressively” with the project even before a decision was taken on the petition challenging the project. “You can lay the foundation stone, you can carry on paperwork but no construction or demolition, no cutting down any trees,” the court had said.

The Central Vista project will be aligned along Rajpath – the 3-km road lined with parks on both sides that stretches from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. At the end of it, on the banks of Yamuna, the Nav Bharat Udyan will come up. The 20-acre park will have an iconic structure and infotainment facilities that will showcase the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage and scientific achievements.