North Block’s Grand Revival: Rs 338-Crore Facelift to Transform Iconic Powerhouse into Museum Marvel

The North Block, a well-known landmark on Raisina Hill where the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Department of Personnel and Training are located, is to be transformed in a major way. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has made a call for bids to begin a Rs 338-crore conservation and retrofitting project that will eventually contribute to the Yuga Yugeen Bharat National Museum.

 

The century-old heritage structure in the heart of government power will be restored and retrofitted over two years. The work will involve detailed cleaning of original stonework, repairing elements of the architecture with traditional lime mortar, and a new service building to be constructed, to provide modern services. The first phase of the work will see the Ministry of Home Affairs relocate so the conservation work can begin, with the other ministries moving in four months of that start date. 

 

Of the Rs 338 crore project total, Rs 275 crore is allocated to construction and Rs 62.24 crore to electrical work. The CPWD says that any bidder must have experience with large scale heritage work and at least one ongoing contract amounting to no less than Rs 135.20 crore.

 

In the following phase, South Block, the counterpart to North Block, will be switched to a similar process for renovation. Both blocks will eventually become re-use building components for the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, which is anticipated to provide a new standard for adaptive use of heritage buildings along with the high standards of quality and preservation design aspects.

 

The technical bid phase closes on May 13 and subsequently shortlisted firms will be called for bid submission in the financial phase. Ministries currently stationed in North Block are expected to move into the new Common Central Secretariat buildings, which should be ready for occupancy soon.

 

Source: The Economic Times