Also Read | IN PICS: PM Modi Lays Foundation Of New Parliament Building, Performs Bhoomi Pujan
The new Parliament building is proposed to be completed in 2022 when the country will celebrate the 75th year of Independence.
Here are the key highlights of PM Modi’s speech:
PM Modi said many new things were being done in the new Parliament House, which will increase the efficiency of the MPs as modern methods will be incorporated in the work culture.
"It is a very historic day. Today is a milestone in India's democratic history,” said Prime Minister Modi.
Noting that the existing Parliament building was constructed 93 years ago, the Prime Minister
said that the new Parliament building is the mixture of the new and the old.
"We, the people of India, will together build this new building of Parliament. This new building will be an inspiration when India will celebrate its 75 years of independence," said the Prime Minister.
If the old Parliament House gave direction to India post-independence, the new building would be a witness to the creation of a self-reliant India, Modi said.
"If work was done to fulfill the needs of the country in the old Parliament building, then the aspirations of 21st century India will be fulfilled in the new building," the prime minister said.
What happened in the groundbreaking ceremony:
Priests from the Sringeri Math Karnataka performed the rituals for the 'bhoomi pujan' at the site and it was followed by a 'sarva dharma prarthana' (inter-faith prayer). Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also offered prayers during the ceremony.
Tata Trusts' Chairman Ratan Tata was also present at the occasion. Notably, Tata Projects Ltd has been given contract for the project
How will the new Parliament building be different?
The new building, which will have an area of 64,500 square metres, will also have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.
The most important point to note is that the Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 888 members, while Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats for members. The Lok Sabha chamber will also have an option to increase its sitting capacity to 1,224 members during joint sessions.
It will be equipped with sophisticated technical features such as a solar energy mechanism. The new triangular shaped building adjacent to the existing Parliament House will be equipped with state-of-the-art security features.