PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh stated Tuesday that the BJP government is considering several sites. These include Rajghat Thermal Power Plant, Khyber Pass, the ITO MSO building, and Indraprastha Estate near the WHO building. Singh mentioned three to four large areas suitable for a new secretariat. He noted that the Rajghat Thermal Power Plant has ample space. It covers about 18 acres and has been closed for years.
He suggested building a tall structure there. This could be like the civic center. A public-private partnership model could fund it. The government could recoup costs while building. Officials reported the government owns 70% of the Rajghat plant land. The Delhi Development Authority holds the rest. The plant has been unused for ten years.
Singh added that other locations are available. These are at Khyber Pass, Civil Lines near the Vidhan Sabha, ITO, and by the WHO building. He emphasized that no final decisions have been made. These sites are currently under review.
The ITO MSO and Trade and Taxes building are Delhi government properties. Vikas Bhawan across the street also belongs to the government.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta recently announced plans to find a new secretariat location. This aims to bring all departments together.
Currently, the Chief Minister, ministers, and top officials work from the Secretariat in Indraprastha Estate. This is near Indira Gandhi Stadium. Key departments like Finance and Education are housed there.
The building, once called the Players’ Building, was built for the 1982 Asian Games. A 2023 PWD study found it seismically unsafe.
Officials cited a lack of space. They said departments like Planning will move to the DMRC building soon. The government also plans to upgrade the DTC headquarters. This site is near the IP Metro Station.
The AAP government proposed a new secretariat in 2021. They suggested demolishing buildings at ITO. This included PWD, GST, and Vikas Sadan. Twin 35-story towers were planned.
PWD sought a consultant in December 2021. However, the project, costing about Rs 1,200 crore, stalled. In 2024, PWD submitted a new proposal. It included an architectural plan. The file went to former PWD Minister Atishi. The project, however, remains on paper.