Workers load air-conditioning units onto a truck outside Shastri Bhawan as the Central Public Works Department initiates the process to vacate the building by the end of September ahead of its planned demolition to make way for new ‘Kartavya Bhawan’ blocks under the Central Vista redevelopment project, in New Delhi, on September 22, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The iconic buildings of Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan in Delhi, housing several Central government complexes, have been asked to be vacated by September 30 so that they can be demolished to make way for the construction of new Kartavya Bhawan 4 and 5 offices.
According to a September 16 letter by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), vacation of the complexes by September 30 is essential to facilitate timely handing over of the site to the executing agency and enable commencement of the construction work as scheduled.
The estimated cost of the Kartavya Bhawan 4 and 5 projects is about ₹3,100 crore, according to the CPWD tender documents and the construction is likely to be completed in two years.
Though most ministries have shifted, there are still many officials operating out of Krishi Bhawan, as the space for relocation has not yet been allotted to them, sources said.
Named after India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Shastri Bhawan served as the headquarters for ministries as diverse as information and broadcasting, petroleum and natural gas, corporate affairs, coal, education, law and justice, sports and youth affairs, tribal affairs and women and child development, among others.
The Krishi Bhawan also housed many ministries, including agriculture, rural development and panchayati raj.
The Central Vista master plan envisages replacing several existing government office buildings with new secretariat facilities. Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan are among the existing office complexes identified for redevelopment.
Published – September 22, 2026 08:37 pm IST
