In a significant administrative move, the Indian government has taken a decisive step towards vacating the historic South Block and Shastri Bhawan. On Friday, it allocated space in the newly constructed Kartvya Bhawan-2 for the relocation of offices belonging to more than half a dozen key ministries.
Historic Shift from Colonial-Era Headquarters
This relocation marks a pivotal moment in India's administrative history. The shifting of the defence ministry offices from the South Block will mean that the seat of power and administration, which has functioned from the iconic building since British rule, will completely move out of the two key pre-independence administrative blocks—South and North Block. The cabinet secretariat has already moved from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the new Sewa Teerth office complex near Vayu Bhawan, and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is also slated to shift there soon.
Detailed Allocation in New Complexes
As per an official order from the housing and urban affairs ministry, specific allocations have been made in the modern Kartvya Bhawan complexes. The defence ministry has been allocated 225 rooms on the fifth and sixth floors of Kartvya Bhawan-2. Offices attached to the law and justice ministry will move from Shastri Bhawan to the third and fourth floors of the same building.
Additionally, offices of the culture, chemical and fertilisers ministries will also shift from Shastri Bhawan to the second and third floors of Kartvya Bhawan-2. The order further states that the education, agriculture, and information & broadcasting ministries, currently operating from Shastri Bhawan, will be relocated to Kartvya Bhawan. The North Block, which previously housed the home and finance ministries, has already been relocated to Kartavya Bhawan-3 and 1, with some CBI-attached offices also moving from North Block to Kartvya Bhawan-2.
Future Plans and Museum Project
Officials indicated that the relocation of offices from Krishi Bhawan will be addressed in the coming months, with tenders expected for the construction of new office buildings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated Kartavya Bhawan-3 in August last year, setting the stage for this large-scale administrative reshuffle.
A key outcome of this move is the acceleration of the Yugeen Yugeen Bharat Museum project. An official stated that vacating the PMO and defence ministry from South Block will help expedite work on the museum. The two iconic blocks near Rashtrapati Bhawan are set to house this new national museum, envisioned as a major tourist attraction showcasing India's civilizational journey.
