Congress built ‘substandard’ buildings like Krishi Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan: Puri

He also said that the old Parliament building ill have to be repaired and made available for alternative uses

Insisting that iconic buildings will not be demolished during the course of redevelopment of the Central Vista, Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday accused the Congress of constructing "substandard" buildings like Krishi Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan and Nirman Bhawan.

The Minister said these buildings were not fit for offices. These buildings have to demolished, the Minister said during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha.

He was speaking in parliament in response to a query by Congress leader Amee Yajnik on the number of buildings to be demolished during the development of the new parliament building.

The building referred to by the minister houses various ministries' offices at present. As per the redevelopment of Central Vista, the nation's power corridor, several existing government buildings will be demolished and a new building will be constructed as per the master plan prepared by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

The next step is the relocation of offices in 90 acres of hutments. During the stage of building a new central secretariat complex, some of the buildings will be demolished, Puri said, adding that not a single historical or iconic building will be removed.

On the usage of the old parliament building, after the project is completed, he said that it will have to be repaired and made available for alternative uses.