Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan located at Kartavya Path in Delhi. He was accompanied by the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, for an inspection of the newly built complex. Kartavya Bhavan-03 is a significant component of the ongoing redevelopment of the Central Vista project. It is the first of several upcoming Common Central Secretariat buildings aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency and enabling faster governance, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The project reflects the government’s commitment to administrative reforms by consolidating various ministries into a state-of-the-art facility designed to foster coordination, accelerate decision-making, and build a more responsive administrative environment.

At present, key ministries are scattered across ageing structures like Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, and Nirman Bhawan, built between the 1950s and 1970s. These outdated buildings are inefficient and require high maintenance. The new infrastructure is expected to cut down on repair costs, improve productivity, enhance employee well-being, and upgrade service delivery.

Kartavya Bhavan-03 is designed to centralise ministries and departments that are currently spread across Delhi, thus boosting efficiency, innovation, and collaboration. The office complex covers approximately 1.5 lakh square meters, with two basement levels and seven floors (ground plus six stories). Ministries to be housed here include Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, DoPT, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA).

As per the PMO, the new building showcases modern governance infrastructure with IT-enabled secure workplaces, ID-based access systems, integrated electronic surveillance, and a centralized command and control system. Sustainability is a key focus, with the building targeting a GRIHA-4 certification. It features double-glazed façades, rooftop solar panels, solar water heating systems, advanced HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning), and rainwater harvesting systems.

Kartavya Bhavan emphasizes eco-friendly practices such as zero-discharge waste management, on-site solid waste processing, electric vehicle charging points, and the use of recycled construction materials. Wastewater is treated and reused to meet most of the building’s water requirements. Recycled construction and demolition waste is used in masonry and paving blocks, while lightweight partitions minimize the use of topsoil and reduce structural load.

The building is engineered to consume 30% less energy, with features like specialized glass to control heat and noise, energy-efficient LED lighting, motion-sensor-based lights, smart power-saving lifts, and an advanced energy management system. The rooftop solar panels are expected to generate over 5.34 lakh units of electricity annually, while solar water heaters will supply more than 25% of the daily hot water needs. EV charging stations are also included. Later in the evening, around 6:30 PM, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address a public gathering at Kartavya Path, as stated in the official PMO release.