Old Parliament Building to Be Retrofitted, Converted into Museum

New Delhi: Starting tomorrow, the parliament proceedings will shift to the new building, marking the end of an era at the historic old parliament building. This iconic structure, completed in 1927, has stood witness to pivotal moments in India’s history, including the adoption of the Constitution. However, after nearly a century of service, it was deemed inadequate for modern-day requirements.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the Lok Sabha, paid heartfelt tributes to the old building, recognizing its significance. He emphasized that MPs would enter the new premises with renewed hope and confidence.

Notably, the old parliament building, designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, will not face demolition. Instead, it will undergo a retrofitting process to provide more functional spaces for parliamentary events. Government sources have stressed the importance of conserving this historic structure as a valuable archaeological asset for the country.

In 2021, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had expressed the need to repair and repurpose the existing structure. The national archives will be relocated to the new parliament building, facilitating heritage-sensitive restoration efforts and creating additional space for the old Parliament building.

There are even suggestions that a portion of the old building could be transformed into a museum, preserving its rich history for generations to come.

The new parliament building, inaugurated by the Prime Minister in May, offers state-of-the-art facilities. It boasts a spacious Lok Sabha chamber accommodating 888 members, a Rajya Sabha chamber for 300 members, and the capability to host joint sessions with 1,280 MPs in the Lok Sabha chamber. This impressive four-storey triangular structure covers a built-up area of 64,500 square meters and features three main gates—Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar—as well as separate entrances for VIPs, MPs, and visitors. The move to this new venue signifies a significant step toward meeting the evolving needs of India’s parliamentary functions.