Thread by @HardeepSPuri

Classic case of a lazy opposition!

If Sh @digvijaya_28 had done some homework & checked his facts, he would have discovered that the proposal for the New Parliament Building had been around even when his party was in power.

The same sentiment of the then Hon'ble Lok Sabha Speaker Smt Meira Kumar Ji was conveyed by her OSD in 2012 when he emphasised this demand in a letter to the then Secretary, Urban Development.

Even the then Rural Development Minister @Jairam_Ramesh had said in his interview given to @The_Hindu in 2012, that “we badly need a new parliament building. This one simply isn’t functional and is outdated.”

Congress has developed a habit of concocting fake narratives. The entire process of selecting the architect consulting firm for the said project had been done in a transparent manner through a competitive bidding process using QCBS method.

Open competitive bids were invited by CPWD for appointment of Consultant to carry out comprehensive architectural & engineering planning for “Development/ Redevelopment of Parliament Building, Common Central Secretariat & Central Vista at New Delhi”.

The 2-stage bidding process prescribed detailed qualifying criteria. 6 reputed architectural firms from across the country submitted their technical & financial bids; 4 met the qualifying criteria.

Proposals were screened by a Jury of experts. M/s HCP Design, Planning & Management Pvt Ltd was awarded the work as the winner in this competitive process.

As regards the cost, I am surprised that Digvijay Ji is oblivious to the fact that by one estimate the cost of 142 acres prime land dedicated to Samadhis of Nehru-Gandhis itself is valued at ₹1,71,500 cr. However he has a problem with the New Parliament building costing ₹971 cr

I suggest Mr Singh should inform himself better. The money being spent on the project is to be spread over 6 years period. It will save huge rent & O&M costs long into the future, apart from boosting functional efficiency & synergy.

Mr Singh should appreciate that such works are futuristic infrastructure investment. Economic revival in wake of Covid-19 pandemic is a key priority of the government. These construction works will transform the infrastructure needed for aspirational New India.

Real estate development will create huge direct/ indirect employment, opportunities for contribution by experts and instil pride in all Indians as their national facilities will be second to none. It will uplift public spaces & amenities in the central vista.

The sheer magnitude of the development/ redevelopment works will contribute significantly in economic revitalisation across the entire construction value chain. Common Central Secretariat will ensure improved land utilization of precious land in the heart of the city.

The project will create much needed facilities for the Parliament, efficient offices for govt & cultural institutions/ public facilities befitting our great nation while protecting & refurbishing the great space where we Indians have our Republic Day Parade & Beating the Retreat.

Had Mr Singh done his job seriously, he would have known that the Standing Committee which he is a member, is that of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs & not the ‘Urban Welfare Ministry’. This in itself casts doubts on the seriousness of his tweets.