Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK :  August 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan‑3, the first of ten planned buildings in the new Common Central Secretariat (CCS), located on India’s redeveloped Kartavya Path in New Delhi . This state-of-the-art office complex, part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project launched in 2019, marks a pivotal shift toward modernizing the administrative infrastructure of Raisina Hills.

Kartavya Bhavan‑3 spans approximately 1.5 lakh square meters, distributed across two basement levels and seven floors above ground, with capacity for 600 parking slots using smart vehicle guidance technology . It consolidates ministries that have long operated in scattered mid-20th-century buildings—including Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, Petroleum & Natural Gas, DoPT, and the Principal Scientific Adviser’s office—all now co-located under one roof .

Designed for efficient, eco-friendly governance, Kartavya Bhavan‑3 achieves up to 30% more energy savings, thanks to LED lighting with sensor activation, double-glazed windows and insulation, heat-recovery systems, and regenerative elevator drives.  It also features a 366 kWp rooftop solar plant, producing over 5.34 lakh units of electricity annually, rainwater harvesting, a zero-discharge wastewater system treating around 1.1 million liters per day, and an organic waste composting facility capable of processing 1,000 kg daily . With 120 EV-charging points, the facility supports 650 vehicles per day and integrates IT-ready infrastructure with robust surveillance and centralized access control .

Ahead of the inauguration, Delhi Police issued traffic advisories for August 6 evening, between 5 pm and 9 pm, warning commuters to avoid Janpath, Mansingh Road, Maulana Azad Road, and other nearby routes due to security arrangements around Kartavya Path. Violators risked towing and prosecution. Alternate routes and public transport options were encouraged to minimize disruptions .

During the event, PM Modi inspected the building and engaged with worker teams involved in its construction before addressing the public gathering on Kartavya Path later that evening at around 6:30 pm .

Kartavya Bhavan‑3 is the first completed building of the envisioned ten-building CCS complex, expected to be finished by 2027. Following its inauguration, efforts will move to construct the Executive Enclave, which will house the new Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Secretariat, India House, NSCS, and eventually the PM’s new residence .

While many heritage offices like Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, and Udyog Bhawan are marked for demolition or repurposing, buildings such as the National Museum, National Archives, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, and Vanijya Bhawan are expected to remain intact .

The inauguration symbolizes not only a physical transformation of India’s administrative landscape but also a symbolic break from outdated colonial-era structures. By unifying ministries under a single, digitally capable and eco-conscious campus, the government signals its intent for more responsive, interconnected governance in the years ahead.