Two new buildings in Central Vista won’t have Patel’s design stamp

The tender’s site plan and drawings are signed by CPWD Chief Architect Vijay Prakash Rao and do not bear HCP’s stamp. The original Central Vista masterplan, created by HCP in 2019, envisioned the two buildings (CCS 6 & 7) as doughnut-shaped structures with central courtyards.

However, the November 28 tender outlines a different design, specifying rectangular-shaped buildings instead and the contractor is required to carry out the detailing.

The tender sought bids for an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, meaning that it would give a basic design to the contractor, who would then be required to carry out the detailing. In all previous Central Vista projects, the detailed design done by HCP was provided by the CPWD to the contractors to execute.

A source with knowledge of the project said these two buildings would be made using pre-engineered steel structures, thereby reducing the time taken to complete.

The tender itself has given the contractor 18 months to complete the project. In comparison, the CCS 1,2 and 3 buildings that are being constructed as conventional reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures began in 2021 and as per a reply to the Rajya Sabha this week, the expected completion date has gone from November 2023 to April 2025.

Emails were sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, under which the CPWD operates, the CPWD; and to HCP about the firm’s exclusion from CCS 6 and 7; they were unavailable for comment.

Government sources confirmed that Patel’s firm will not design the two buildings. Another source associated with the project said that this decision was taken “six to eight months ago.” The source added that the Government had sounded out HCP before the decision and the firm is learnt to have approved of it.

Another source familiar with the developments said the design of the new buildings would align with HCP’s CCS 1, 2, and 3 designs and the overall masterplan. “The buildings will be similar, from the outside, but not identical,” this source noted.

“EPC is a sensible option and today most governments prefer it as it saves administrative costs,” the earlier source said. “The contractor quotes a fixed price which is higher, factoring in over-runs, bears all the risk…The downside is that you don’t have much control then on the design.”

The CPWD appointed HCP as its consultant in October 2019 to design the Central Vista masterplan spanning from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House).

The 2019 bid document also required the winning consultant to provide “comprehensive detailed design” for all new buildings and “periodic supervision of workmanship.” The detailed design was meant to include architectural and structural design, electrical, security, plumbing design and interior design.

HCP won the contract with a bid of Rs 229 crore. While the project was scheduled for completion by 2024, construction has faced delays.

Patel’s firm designed the Central Vista masterplan and provided detailed designs for all buildings where work has commenced so far—the new Parliament, CCS buildings 1, 2, 3, and 13, the Vice-President’s Enclave, the Executive Enclave, the Prime Minister’s Residence, and the revamped Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath).

HCP continues to supervise ongoing projects like CCS 1, 2, 3, and 13, as well as the Executive Enclave. The new Parliament and Kartavya Path were completed in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Patel, who was awarded a Padma Shri in 2019, and his firm, HCP, have been involved in several key projects in Gujarat, including the ongoing redevelopment of Gandhi Ashram. Patel has also been responsible for the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi.

With inputs from Leena Misra in Ahmedabad.