Read on Twitter
Tried tracking down different Central Vista proposals. Found 4. Some random commentary.
Common themes: new Parliament building (accommodate more MPs and joint sessions, code compliant, modern AV etc), consolidate ministries spread across New Delhi, bring PM residence closer, design around mobility (metro stations).
#6:
Parliament looks weird - obstructing Rajpath and all. Meh. And why are "President/Parliament/Army" the three facets of the Indian Constitution? wtf?
Parliament looks weird - obstructing Rajpath and all. Meh. And why are "President/Parliament/Army" the three facets of the Indian Constitution? wtf?
#4:
Parliament looks like a planetarium. Rest of it is just random music and panning, and a tower with tricolour lights - just because.
Parliament looks like a planetarium. Rest of it is just random music and panning, and a tower with tricolour lights - just because.
#3:
I'd be careful about using the phrase "fascist architecture" but that's what it looks like. Random grand symbols towering India Gate just because.
I'd be careful about using the phrase "fascist architecture" but that's what it looks like. Random grand symbols towering India Gate just because.
#2:
Pretty good actually. And the best proposal *video* IMO - no nonsense and succinctly describes all aspects. Only complaint - new Parliament looks like an airport terminal?
Underground tram loop connecting to metro stations is pretty cool!
Pretty good actually. And the best proposal *video* IMO - no nonsense and succinctly describes all aspects. Only complaint - new Parliament looks like an airport terminal?
Underground tram loop connecting to metro stations is pretty cool!
#1 (winning):
Best Parliament design out of the proposals, I think. They don't cover mobility in the proposal but it's very much central according to the detailed design.
Best Parliament design out of the proposals, I think. They don't cover mobility in the proposal but it's very much central according to the detailed design.
The talk by Bimal Patel frames the redesign as some very thoughtful questions - space utilization, security protocols, worker productivity, mobility, energy efficiency, not towering the older structures etc.
Framing the right questions is the job half done. As long as they try to address all of them to some degree - it'll be a massive leap from the creaky patched structures we currently have.
Juxtaposing this against COVID-related economic concerns is weird. This IS a solution - the billion dollars spent here will employ a massive army of planners, engineers, and builders. It's a fiscal stimulus.
Also, this is the governing apparatus that administers a multi-trillion dollar economy. A small gain in productivity here has massive rewards (although actual productivity could as easily be +100% or something).
Not that the SC has any business inserting itself as a party with legitimate interests here, but becoming a hindrance over a couple of trees is, excuse me, missing the forest for the woods.
This is not a case of "BJP/RSS egoistically rewriting our history/monuments" as I thought it'd be. It's an entirely reasonable/best effort approach to very legitimate, very pressing problems.
And lastly, why the hell is the media not talking about this? It's *the most* significant planning project in the history of Independent India. It needs to be discussed and understood better!
