‘Will bring new wave of joy in their lives’: PM Modi inaugurates multi-storey flats for MPs

The PM said: “I had inaugurated the Common Central Secretariat on the Kartavya Path, Kartavya Bhawan, a few days ago. And today, I have got the opportunity to inaugurate the residential complex for my associates. The four towers, Krishna, Godavari, Kosi, Hooghly, named after India’s greatest rivers, which gives life to everyone, will inspire the lives of the public representatives, by filling them with a new wave of joy.”

Taking a jibe at the Opposition, Modi also said, “Some people will also face trouble. They will link the Kosi river to Bihar elections. To those “small-minded” people, I would like to say that the names of these rivers binds us together in unity in the country.”

The new complex located close to Parliament House comprises 184 type-VII multi-storey flats.

The PM also planted the Sindoor sapling at the residential premises and interacted with ‘shramjeevis’, workers behind the construction of these flats.

He congratulated the MPs, and expressed his gratitude to the engineers and workers. “There will be an increase in the ease of living of our MPs. There will be an increase in the number of existing government houses in Delhi. I congratulate all the MPs. I also express my gratitude to the engineers and construction workers, related to the construction of these flats,” he stated.

“I got the chance to witness the model flat where our MPs will reside. I have also had the opportunity to visit the old flats. The way the old flats were victims of misery, and the way our MPs had to face problems, will no longer be present in these modern flats. When the MPs will be free from their own issues, they will be able to contribute their time and energy to solve the issues of the general public,” he added in his address.

According to a statement released earlier by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the complex is designed to be self-sufficient and is equipped with a full-range of modern amenities to address the functional needs of the MPs.

“You all know that the newly-elected MPs in Delhi used to face a lot of problems while being allotted their residences. The new houses will resolve that issue as well. These multi-storey buildings will host more than 180 MPs together,” Modi said.

Highlighting the economic angle to the construction of these flats, he said, “The rent for the buildings where various ministries used to run stood at Rs 1.5 thousand crores. This was a direct waste of the country’s funds. Similarly, there used to be an increase in government expenditure due to the lack of adequate residences for the MPs. Despite this, between 2004-2014, there was no construction of new residences for Lok Sabha MPs.”

“After 2014, we considered this work as a movement. Since then, around 350 MPs residences have been constructed,” he noted.

“As they are being built, the money of the general public is also being saved. India of the 2st century is as sensitive as it is eager to fulfill its ‘Viksit Bharat’ mission. If the country built the Kartavya Path and the Kartavya Bhawan, then it also supplied water through pipelines to the crores of people across the country. If the country constructs new residences for the MPs, it also built homes for 4 crore Indians under the PM Awas Yojana. If the country built a new Parliament complex, then it also built new medical colleges. Every class, every society is being benefited from them.”

It will be a great move if festivals of different states are celebrated collectively, he said, adding that the MPs can ask their constituents to join them as well.

The MPs living on the premises should consider it their duty to ensure that the place is identified with sustainability and cleanliness, he added.

Noting the symbolism of these flats, Modi said, “In these residential flats for MPs, we have also taken care of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is a part of Pro-Environment, Pro-Future Safe Initiative… Here, MPs from different regions of the country will stay together. Your presence here will symbolise the idea of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’.”

He also urged the Ministry and the Awas committee to organise a cleanliness competition among the different premises housing the MPs.

Commenting on the huge sizes of these residences, Modi hoped they would be “brought to good use, and that they become a blessing to your personal and family life.”

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal, and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju were present at the occasion.

“Incorporating green technology, the project adheres to the standards of the GRIHA 3-star rating and complies with the National Building Code (NBC) 2016. These environmentally sustainable features are expected to contribute to energy conservation, renewable energy generation, and effective waste management,” PMO’s statement read.