The court noted that the work at the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment was part and parcel of the Central Vista Project and of vital public importance and the legality of the project had been upheld by Supreme Court. “By no stretch of imagination, it can be said that Central Vista Project or Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project is not an essential project,” the court said, adding, “If this type of project is stopped by the court, the main project cannot be completed within the stipulated time”. It noted that the work at the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project had to be completed by November, 2021. The Central Vista Project includes Parliament, refurbishment of North Block, South Block, construction of new offices for Central government - Common Central Secretariat, Central Conference facilities, and Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project (both sides of the Rajpath where Republic Day celebrations are held every year). Mr. Luthra had referred to the ongoing project work as not Central Vista, rather “central fortress of death”, comparing it to “Auschwitz”, a German concentration camp during World War II.

Source: The Hindu May 31, 2021 05:12 UTC