Kathmandu, January 6. The construction of the new parliament building of India has been given approval by the Supreme Court of India. The building, which is going to be constructed at Delhi, has a colossal budget of $3 billion.

Due to the lack of transparency and public consultations, the project has faced massive backlash from environmentalists, civil society group and politicians. The ‘Central Vista’ project aims to revamp the area from Rashtrapati Bhawan to the India Gate and reconstruct the parliament building and the area as a gigantic triangular complex.

The parliament building area is the only area in India to get a grade I heritage status, therefore a case was filed in December to halt the construction in India’s Supreme Court. Critics have argued as to why the current building could not be renovated and used as India currently is facing an economic crisis due to COVID-19 and such large amount of money should not be spent on such projects.

In May, Urban Affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri and 60 former civil servants wrote to Modi against the project. But recently, Minister Puri has welcomed the decision of the Indian Supreme Court. He tweeted, “We welcome the Judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court giving the go ahead for the ambitious Central Vista Project. Central Govt has always been sensitive to environmental concerns & will continue to adhere to the highest standards during the period of construction.”

The project is expected to complete by the 75th Independence Day of India in 2022. Indian Prime Minister Modi had already laid the building’s foundation in December.