Full Breakdown
Demolition of Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan Marks the Next Phase of Delhi’s Central Vista Redevelopment
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Core Event: Vacate and Demolish Two Iconic Secretariat Buildings
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has ordered ministries occupying Shastri Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan to vacate by September 30 2026. The complexes, in use for over five decades, will be demolished to make way for the new Common Central Secretariat (CCS) towers — Kartavya Bhawan 4 and 5. The CPWD letter dated September 16 2026 states the handover is essential for construction to begin as scheduled.
Background & Context
Shastri Bhawan (named after former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri) and Krishi Bhawan were built between the mid-1950s and late-1960s as part of the post-Independence expansion of the Central Secretariat. Krishi Bhawan’s foundation stone was laid in 1952 and completed by 1957; Shastri Bhawan became operational in 1969. Their demolition is a key step in the Central Vista master plan, which aims to replace ageing office blocks along Kartavya Path with consolidated, technology-enabled secretariat facilities.
Timeline
- September 16 2026: CPWD issues letter requesting vacation of the two buildings.
- September 30 2026: Deadline for ministries to hand over the sites.
- Post-vacancy: Demolition will begin, followed by a 24-month construction period for Kartavya Bhawan 4 and 5.
Data & Statistics
- Estimated project cost:
- INR3,155 crore (Tribune)
- INR3,100 crore (The Hindu, Moneycontrol)
- INR3,155.41 crore – a 4.97 % increase over the January 2026 tender.
- Construction footprint: Revised design adds 115 sq m of built-up area.
- Construction timeline: 24 months as per CPWD tender documents.
- Ministries previously housed: Education, Information & Broadcasting, Women & Child Development, Agriculture, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Corporate Affairs, Coal, Law & Justice, Sports & Youth Affairs, Tribal Affairs, among others.
Official Statements & Responses
An unnamed CPWD official said the modest cost rise stems from “optimisation in the planning” and conversion of previously open spaces into usable office areas. Ministries have begun relocating; the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has moved to Soochna Bhawan on Lodhi Road, while divisions of the Ministry of External Affairs have shifted to the Samrat Hotel on Kautilya Marg.
On-the-Ground Reports
A local observer described the buildings as “the gold-mine for stories,” noting that their demolition marks the loss of a physical memory of India’s early democratic governance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Cost estimates: Sources differ by up to INR55 crore, with Hindustan Times reporting INR3,155.41 crore versus the INR3,100 crore cited by The Hindu and Moneycontrol.
- The precise timeline for completing all relocations remains unclear.
- Design details: The extent of the “slight modification” that led to the cost increase is described only in general terms, leaving specific architectural changes undocumented.