Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan demolition to begin for Central Vista revamp soon

Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan are being vacated for demolition under the Central Vista project. Their clearance will open the way for new Kartavya Bhawans and faster office consolidation.

In Short

• CPWD has asked ministries to vacate both buildings by September-end 2026
• New Kartavya Bhawans will rise on the existing buildings' footprint
• Shastri Bhawan housed education, petroleum, natural gas and coal ministries

The demolition of Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan, two long-standing government office buildings in Lutyens' Delhi, is set to begin soon as the Central Public Works Department has started the process to vacate the premises by the end of September. The two buildings will be replaced by Kartavya Bhawans 4 and 5 under the Central Vista redevelopment project.

Built between 1956 and 1968, Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan housed several key Union ministries for decades. Their vacation marks the next stage in the Centre's plan to replace ageing government office buildings along Kartavya Path with new Common Central Secretariat complexes.

According to a CPWD communication dated September 16, the tender for the construction of the proposed new Kartavya Bhawans has been awarded. The communication said the new buildings fall within the footprint of the existing Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan, making it necessary to hand over the site to the agency executing the Central Vista redevelopment project by the end of September 2026.

"This is essential to facilitate timely handing over of the site to the executing agency and enable the commencement of construction work as scheduled. It is, therefore, requested to take necessary action on priority for vacation and handing over of the existing Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan premises within the stipulated time," the communication said.

Named after former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the seven-storeyed Shastri Bhawan served for decades as a key office hub for several ministries and departments, including the education, petroleum and natural gas, and coal ministries. Krishi Bhawan housed the agriculture and farmers' welfare ministry and the rural development ministry. Over the last few months, several ministries and departments have vacated the two buildings and shifted to the newly inaugurated Kartavya Bhawans in the high-security Central Vista area.

The government has proposed 10 Kartavya Bhawans under the Central Vista redevelopment project to bring ministries and departments, now functioning from different buildings, into modern and integrated office complexes. The new complexes are meant to provide secure, technology-enabled workspaces and reduce the maintenance burden of old government buildings. Under the broader redevelopment plan, offices from North and South Blocks, which are proposed to be converted into the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum, have also been shifted out.

With the tender awarded and ministries moving out, the clearance of Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan is now set to pave the way for the next phase of construction under the Central Vista redevelopment project.

- Ends