New Delhi Secretariat at ITO: Govt revises plan, opts for single tower on 10 acres

New Delhi: The Delhi government has revised its plan for the construction of a new Delhi Secretariat, which will now come up on a 10-acre plot after the demolition of the existing Income Tax Office (ITO) building. The announcement was made by Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Thursday.

The earlier proposal for a twin-tower project has been replaced with a single-tower design, the minister said. The Income Tax Office and other government offices currently housed in the area will be shifted to a new multi-storey building to be constructed on an eight-acre plot on the opposite side of the road.

Mr. Singh stated that the Delhi government held discussions with the Income Tax Department regarding the plan, which has now been sent to the Central government for approval. Once the plan is finalised, the government will invite tenders for the construction of the building.

According to the minister, the Delhi government will redevelop a total of 18 acres of land around the ITO area. Out of this, five acres belong to the Income Tax Department. After the redevelopment, the department will be allocated space in proportion to its original land holding.

The current Delhi Secretariat, located at the Players Building near the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, has been facing a space crunch. Several offices of the Delhi government are scattered across the city, leading to operational difficulties. The new building is expected to consolidate government offices and address these issues.

The minister did not specify a timeline for the project. He said the government is moving forward after discussions with the concerned departments and that the matter is now with the central government for final clearance. The redevelopment is part of a broader effort to modernise the administrative infrastructure in the national capital.