Why in News?
- The Prime Minister inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan‑03, the first of ten planned Common Central Secretariat buildings under the Central Vista redevelopment project.
What Is Kartavya Bhavan?
- Kartavya Bhavan is a newly built Common Central Secretariat (CCS) structure in New Delhi.
- It is designed to consolidate more than 50 scattered central ministry offices into ten modern buildings, improving efficiency and reducing rental and maintenance costs.
Key Features
- Physical size: The building covers approximately 150,000 square metres with seven floors above ground and two basement levels.
- Green infrastructure: Features include rooftop solar panels generating more than half a million units of electricity annually, rain‑water harvesting and zero‑discharge waste processing. Efficient heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning systems and noise‑insulated glass reduce energy consumption.
- Smart systems: Digital workspaces, sensor‑controlled lighting, closed‑circuit television surveillance and smart identity‑based access enhance security and efficiency. A central command centre oversees building operations.
- Ministries housed: The building will host the ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Department of Personnel and Training and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.
Significance
- Administrative efficiency: Bringing key ministries under one roof improves coordination and speeds decision‑making.
- Cost savings: Once all CCS buildings are operational, the government expects to save about ₹1,500 crore annually in rent and maintenance.
- Sustainability: Kartavya Bhavan aims for a high green‑building rating and seeks to reduce energy use by 30 % compared to conventional government offices.
Conclusion
Kartavya Bhavan represents a major step in modernising India’s administrative infrastructure. Through smart design and sustainable features, it promises to enhance governance efficiency and reduce environmental impact.