PM Modi Hits Out At Opposition, Says Those Opposing Central Vista Mum Over Defence Complexes

Central Vista project: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took a jibe at the opposition over the Central Vista project.

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Central Vista Project: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the Defence Office complexes at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue in Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, he took a dig at those who criticised the Central Vista Project, saying that such people kept quiet on these facilities provided to the army.

Opposition parties, including Congress, had questioned the project and termed it unnecessary. PM Modi pointed out that the newly constructed Defence Office complex is part of the Central Vista project. 

"The people who were criticising the Central Vista project never mentioned the Defence Office Complexes, which is also part of the Centra Vista... They knew their falsity would be exposed," he said, as quoted by ANI.

He said that the work of the defence office complex that was to be completed in 24 months, has been completed in a record time of just 12 months amidst many other challenges, ranging from labour to COVID pandemic. Hundreds of workers were employed in this project during this period.

The construction of the Defence Office Complex is part of the Central Vista project. Under this project, the entire area of Rajpath is to be redeveloped along with the construction of a new Parliament House and a new Central Secretariat.

The Prime Minister inspected the campuses before inaugurating them and also launched the Central Vista website. The new Defence Office complexes will have work space available for nearly 7,000 officers of the Ministry of Defence and armed forces, including the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that in the 75th year of Independence, another step has been taken to develop the national capital according to the needs and aspirations of a new India.

"The Defence Office complexes are going to further strengthen efforts to make the functioning of our forces more convenient, more effective," PM Modi said.

"These modern offices will help in effectively running every task related to the security of the nation. This is a major step towards the construction of modern defence enclaves in the capital," he said.

"Today, when the Union Government is trying to modernise India's military strength in every respect, equipping it with modern weapons, the procurement of equipment needed by the Army is gaining momentum, how can it be possible that the defence operations of the country go on in a decades-old manner?" he stated.

The Prime Minister said that the work related to Central Vista, which is being done today, has a sense of "ease of life" and "ease of doing business". He expressed confidence about the timely completion of the construction of the new Parliament House.

The inaugural function was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore, and Chiefs of Armed Forces.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the new Defence Office complexes are state-of-the-art and energy-efficient with comprehensive security management measures. Among the main features of these buildings – the use of new and durable construction technology LGSF (Light Gauge Steel Frame) is prominent.