The Central Vista project is not essential now, but a central government with a vision is, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday as the country saw a record single-day rise of over 3.60 lakh coronavirus cases.
“Central Vista- not essential, Central Govt with a vision- essential,” Gandhi tweeted on Wednesday. His comment was in reference to the government’s decision to declare construction work for the project as an “essential service”. The decision allows the project to continue even as a lockdown has been imposed in the national Capital.
Central Vista project:
The Central Vista revamp project, which was announced in September last year, envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, and it is targeted to be constructed by August, 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day.
The common Central Secretariat, a part of the project, is likely to be built by 2024.
Last week also, Gandhi questioned the government’s priorities in handling Covid and the Central Vista project. “No test, no vaccine, no oxygen and no ICU,” he tweeted.
The Opposition has been demanding that the fund for the project be devoted towards the country’s Covid response.
India’s death toll also crossed two lakh following 3,293 fresh fatalities, according to Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday.