The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the new Parliament House to the nation on May 28, 2023.
Key facts
- The Prime Minister installed the Sengol with Nandi at the top facing East-West direction in the new Parliament House.
- Referring to the establishment of sacred Sengol, the Prime Minister said that in the great Chola empire, Sengol was seen as a symbol of the path of service duty and nation.
- The Parliament premises have the national tree Banyan.
- The new building incorporates the specialities of different parts of the country. He mentioned granite from Rajasthan, timber from Maharashtra and carpet by Bhadhoi artisans.
- The new building is triangular in shape. The new Parliament building has three storeys and a built-up area of 64,500 sqm.
- The Lok Sabha chamber will have 888 seats, up from the existing 543, with the option of expanded seating up to 1,272.
- The Rajya Sabha chamber can accommodate 384 Members of Parliament (MPs), as opposed to the existing capacity of 250.
- The Lok Sabha will be used for joint sittings of both Houses.
- The new Lok Sabha chamber has a peacock theme, with designs drawn from the national bird’s feathers carved on the walls and ceiling, complemented by teal carpets.
- The Rajya Sabha chamber has been decorated with the lotus as its theme, with red carpets.
- The building is replete with national symbols, including the national emblem — the Lion Capital of Ashoka — that weighs 9,500 kg and is 6.5 metres in height, and is visible from a distance.
- At the entrance, the Ashoka chakra and the words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ have been carved in stone.
- The 16-foot-tall bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which has been the site of numerous protests and gatherings by MPs and photo-ops for students, will remain on the lawn between the old and new buildings.
