CPWD Prohibits Photography, Video Recording At Central Vista Construction Site

several civil society groups and environmental organisations across the country had appealed to the Centre to halt its ambitious Central Vista Redevelopment Project in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

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New Delhi: With the widespread criticism from various quarters over the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, the Central Public Works Department has prohibited photography and video recording at the construction site near India Gate.

The government’s ambitious Central Vista project is aiming to renovate and redevelop 86 acres of land in Lutyens’ Delhi, comprising of landmark structures including Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, North Block, and South Block, Shastri Bhavan, India Gate, and Udyog Bhavan.

Sign boards have come up at the redevelopment site of Central Vista Avenue, which read: "No photography", "No video recording". As per the news agency PTI, the official in the CPWD, which is executing the project, did not respond when contacted.

The BJP-led government is being criticied by the opposition for executing the Central Vista Redevelopment Project amid the pandemic situation ravaging the country.

It also aims to redevelop new Prime Minister's residence and office, and a new Vice President Enclave. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri had responded to the Congress criticism over the project, saying the party's discourse is "bizarre" as its leaders themselves had supported the idea when the UPA was in power.

Meanwhile, several civil society groups and environmental organisations across the country had appealed to the Centre to halt its ambitious Central Vista Redevelopment Project in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

The statement issued by 65 organisations urged the central government to halt the Rs 13,450 crore project and divert all available resources towards handling the pandemic. While the central government has opposed the plea before Delhi High Court seeking a halt on construction activities in relation to the Central Vista redevelopment project.