(Image source from: New Parliament building for India?})

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan opines that the current Parliament building is in great “distress” and India wants new one. She made this opinion in a proposal to the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD).

Aishwar Rao, spokesperson of MoUD, confirmed the proposal while speaking to the Hindu. He said that the concerned letter was received by M. Venkaiah Naidu, Urban Development Minister, the previous week.

The letter from Ms. Mahajan suggested for a comparatively spacious structure as well as technically advanced building either within the Parliament building or outside across the Rajpath.

Ms. Mahajan said in a letter that, “On account of ageing of the Parliament House building and expansion in activities, staff etc, the building has shown signs of distress and overutilisation... Under the circumstances, there is an imperative need for the construction of a new state-of-art Parliament building.”

According to Ministry officials, the discussions on the matter would be made with the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and the Union Cabinet as well.

The reason cited for the need for the new Parliament building by the Speaker is that more Lok Sabha seats would probably come in after 2026, “in accordance with the provisions of the explanation to clause (3) Article 81 of the Constitution.”

The Article 81 commands for balancing of the people’s representation in Parliament in lines with the population recorded by previous census.

In case the Article 81 comes into application, Lok Sabha seat number can increase. But the capacity of the current building is 550 members and there no space for more of them.

Also read: Modi inaugurates Afghan parliament building in Kabul 

-Sumana