No cover over House entrance used by MPs, Speaker asks CPWD to consider a porch

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has asked the Central Public Works Department to consider adding a porch over Makar Dwar, the entrance used by most MPs

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Aug 8, 2026 09:45 AM IST

Opposition MPs stage a protest at Parliament premises over the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft case on Friday. (Photo: ANI)

Three years after the new Parliament building was inaugurated, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) this week to consider adding a porch over Makar Dwar, the entrance currently uncovered and used by the majority of MPs, according to sources aware of the developments.

The CPWD, sources said, is looking at the feasibility of adding a porch over the entrance, which faces the covered entrance of the old Parliament building.

Of the six entrances to the new building, three ceremonial entrances have porches, including the two gates used exclusively by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Gaja Dwar) and Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan (Asva Dwar). The third covered entrance, Garuda Dwar, is mostly used by officers, visitors and media, although MPs can also use it.

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The remaining three entrances, including Makar Dwar, which is the one used by most MPs, do not have porches. The Speaker usually enters from Hans Dwar which also does not have a porch.

As of now, the MPs arriving and leaving from Parliament House wait for their vehicles out in the open, susceptible to the rain as in the ongoing monsoon session or the sunshine during the summer.

“The Speaker has instructed the CPWD to conduct a feasibility study to see if a porch can be constructed at Makar Dwar in view of the weather conditions,” a source with knowledge of the development said.

According to multiple sources aware of the situation, there are, however, concerns regarding the structural feasibility of any such addition and if there is enough free space outside Makar Dwar since the porch of the old building is just in front of it.

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The new Parliament building, designed by Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in May 2023 and the proceedings shifted from the old building to the new one in September that year. It was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore by Tata Projects Ltd.

According to the original plan, the MPs’ dedicated entrance was to be what became Garuda Dwar, which is covered, it is learnt. In fact, in a presentation made at CEPT University of the plans as of February 2020, which is available on YouTube, architect Bimal Patel, who heads HCP, had marked the eastern ceremonial entrance as the one to be used by MPs. However, by the time the building was completed and proceedings shifted to it in September 2023, the plan had changed. MPs now use Makar Dwar, Hans Dwar and Shardul Dwar to enter and exit the building.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, under which the CPWD operates, has not yet responded to a request from The Indian Express for comment.

It is outside Makar Dwar that Ministers and MPs, across party lines, interact with the media when Parliament is in session. During the ongoing session, MPs can be seen being escorted to their cars by security personnel holding umbrellas or making a dash to their vehicles in the rain.

Damini Nath

Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. Expertise Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats: Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues. Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production. Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included: Culture Social Justice Housing and Urban Affairs The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus). Trustworthiness Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More

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