Why the Defence Ministry is Lastly Vacating the Iconic South Block After 95 Years
One of many closing main steps earlier than work begins on retrofitting South Block to transform it into the brand new Nationwide Museum is the relocation of the Defence Ministry from the heritage constructing in New Delhi, a course of prone to start quickly, The Indian Categorical has learnt.
After the Prime Minister’s Workplace formally moved out of South Block in February and North Block was vacated final yr, the Defence Ministry would be the final authorities division to vacate its places of work on Raisina Hill, the place it has been positioned since Independence. It will make means for the retrofitting of the 2 heritage buildings – North Block and South Block – as the brand new museum.
The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) lately moved places of work from the heritage constructing to the brand new secretariat advanced, Kartavya Bhawan, whereas the Prime Minister’s Workplace final month moved to Seva Teerthinaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on February 13.
After it floated a young for Rs 298.52 crore to retrofit South Block in November 2025, the Central Public Works Division (CPWD) is within the strategy of allotting the work. Authorities sources say the mission will begin quickly.
Momentary preparations
Civilian officers of the Ministry of Defence, together with Defence Minister Rajnath Singhwill shift into the Kartavya Bhawan 2 constructing, it’s learnt. That is prone to be a brief association because the Defence Ministry is anticipated to maneuver into its personal buildings, that are being constructed as a part of the brand new secretariat.
A few of the uniformed officers might be shifting to the Indian Military’s new Thal Sena Bhawan, underneath building within the Delhi Cantonment and prone to be operational in a number of weeks’ time. Nevertheless, given the sensitivity of the ministry’s work, South Block shouldn’t be prone to be utterly vacated for months, it’s learnt.
As part of the Central Vista redevelopment mission, South Block and North Block, which have been inaugurated in 1931, might be conserved and retrofitted because the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum, underneath the aegis of the Ministry of Tradition.
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Officers from the Ministry say the mission is presently in its design section, including that the primary gallery at North Block is prone to open by the top of this yr. Union Tradition Minister Gajendra Shekhawat lately advised Parliament that the museum’s curatorial framework is presently being refined by means of intensive session with subject-matter specialists to make sure a complete historic narrative.
The general idea observe for the museum might be prepared within the subsequent two-three years, as per official sources, whereas your entire mission is prone to take over 5 years to finish.
The upcoming museum will showcase objects sourced from six Tradition Ministry museums, 52 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) website museums, repatriated artefacts, and objects on long-term mortgage from worldwide establishments, state-level museums, and outstanding non-public collections, as per the Ministry of Tradition.
CPWD had began work on conserving North Block after the ministries of Dwelling, Finance, and Personnel moved out to the Kartavya Bhawan-3 final yr.
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A key a part of the Central Vista mission is the development of a brand new Widespread Central Secretariat (CCS) comprising 10 buildings, following the demolition of current authorities places of work, together with Shastri Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, and Udyog Bhawan. To this point, three of the buildings on Janpath have been accomplished and named Kartavya Bhawan (KB) 1, 2, and three.