Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum: Cabinet Clears Rs 3,230 Crore for North, South Block
Delhi's two Raisina Hill secretariat buildings are to become a museum with a 1.78 lakh sq metre floor area; first gallery expected late 2027.
Image: IANS / File photo
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, 11 November, approved the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at the North and South Block complex in New Delhi, at an estimated cost of Rs 3,230 crore. The museum will be built by reusing the two historic government buildings on Raisina Hill. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision after the Cabinet meeting.
A Built-Up Area of 1.78 Lakh Square Metres
The project covers a proposed built-up area of about 1,78,509 square metres, according to reports based on the Cabinet’s statement. Officials say it is designed for about one crore visitors a year. Vaishnaw said the museum, benchmarked against major international museums, will have the largest display area in the world. IPB could not independently verify that comparison.
Reports based on the government’s briefing say about 1.8 million objects have been identified from national, Archaeological Survey of India, state and private collections. Planned galleries include Architecture and Cityscapes, Mathematics and Astronomy, Languages and Scripts, and Faith and Spirituality.
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Announced in May 2023, Appraised in July
Prime Minister Modi announced the museum on 18 May 2023. The Public Investment Board appraised the project on 27 July 2026, and the Ministry of Culture concurred, according to the ETV Bharat report. The government says the adaptive reuse will preserve the architectural character and heritage significance of the two buildings. Central ministries have been moving out of the blocks into the new Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavans.
First Gallery Expected in North Block in Late 2027
Work is planned in phases from 2026-27 to 2030-31. The first gallery, titled “Adornment”, is expected to open in North Block in late 2027, ETV Bharat reported. The Cabinet’s statement does not give a date for the full museum. Tenders and the design contract have not been announced.
Source: Based on reporting by ThePrint (PTI) and ETV Bharat (IANS).
Image: IANS / File photo.
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