The foundation stone of the old Parliament House was laid on 12 February 1921, and its Lok Sabha chamber seated 550 Members. In October 2019 the Government said the space and amenities in Parliament House were insufficient even for present MPs, and that more MPs may be elected after delimitation. CPWD awarded the design consultancy on 18 October 2019, with the Parliament building then due by March 2022. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the new building on 10 December 2020.
New Parliament Building
New Parliament Building
The new Parliament building stands adjacent to the old Parliament House in New Delhi, as part of the Central Vista redevelopment. Its foundation stone was laid on 10 December 2020, it was dedicated to the nation on 28 May 2023, and both Houses first sat in it on 19 September 2023. The triangular, three-storey building has a Lok Sabha hall with 888 seats and a Rajya Sabha hall with 384 seats; the old Lok Sabha chamber seated 550 Members. The old building, whose foundation stone was laid in 1921, has been named Samvidhan Sadan. This timeline traces the building from design to completion.
384
Rajya Sabha hall seats (PIB, Mar 2024)
₹971 cr
Estimated cost (Dec 2021)
~60,000
Workers employed in construction, per the PM (May 2023)
Lok Sabha seats in the new Parliament building (opened 2023)
2019
Design consultant chosen
CPWD awarded the consultancy for the Central Vista master plan and building designs to HCP Design, Planning and Management on 18 October 2019; the Parliament building was then due by March 2022.
2020
Foundation stone laid
2021
Cost and progress reported
2022
Digital Sansad presented to MPs
2022
National Emblem cast on the roof
2023
Dedicated to the nation
2023
First sitting; women's reservation bill
2025
Listed as a completed project
2019
1milestones
20192025
Latest
Design consultant chosen
CPWD awarded the consultancy for the Central Vista master plan and building designs to HCP Design, Planning and Management on 18 October 2019; the Parliament building was then due by March 2022.
Why it matters Parliament is where the laws that govern daily life are debated and passed. In 2019 the Government said space and amenities in the old building were insufficient even for existing MPs, and that the number of MPs may rise after delimitation. The Prime Minister said around 60,000 workers were employed in building the new one.
- Foundation stone laid: 10 December 2020
- Dedicated to the nation: 28 May 2023
- First proceedings of both Houses: 19 September 2023
- Seats: 888 in the Lok Sabha hall and 384 in the Rajya Sabha hall (PIB, March 2024)
- Estimated cost ₹971 crore (December 2021 estimate)
- Granite and sandstone from Rajasthan, woodwork from Maharashtra and carpets hand-woven in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh (May 2023)
History
Notable milestone
The Prime Minister dedicated the building to the nation on 28 May 2023 and installed the Sengol in it. A Special Session of Parliament began in the old building on 18 September 2023; on 19 September 2023 both Houses began proceedings in the new building, renamed Sansad Bhavan, and the old one was named Samvidhan Sadan. The same day the women's reservation bill was introduced. It passed the Lok Sabha by 454 votes to 2 and the Rajya Sabha unanimously, becoming the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023.
How it works
The building is triangular and three storeys high, containing the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha and an open courtyard. The Lok Sabha hall, themed on the national bird, the peacock, has 888 seats, and the Rajya Sabha hall, themed on the national flower, the lotus, has 384. The Lok Sabha hall has additional capacity of up to 1,272 seats for joint sessions of Parliament (Central Vista project). It was designed to meet Seismic Zone 5 requirements. The Prime Minister said its granite and sandstone came from Rajasthan, its woodwork from Maharashtra and its hand-woven carpets from artisans in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh. A bronze National Emblem weighing 9,500 kg stands on the roof of the Central Foyer.
Outlook
A Lok Sabha reply of 24 July 2025 listed the New Parliament Building as a completed Central Vista project as on 30 June 2025, when Common Central Secretariat buildings 1, 2 and 3 were 88% complete. The Central Vista master plan envisages the old and new buildings being used together once the old one is retrofitted and refurbished. For Parliament, MeitY has been developing Digital Sansad, a platform linking citizens, MPs and other stakeholders. The separate National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) serves State and UT legislatures: by 11 March 2026, 21 of them were conducting business digitally on NeVA and 7 more were implementing it.
By the numbers
888 Lok Sabha seats and 384 Rajya Sabha seats. 10 Dec 2020 foundation stone laid. 28 May 2023 dedicated to the nation. 19 Sep 2023 first proceedings of both Houses. ₹971 crore estimated cost (Dec 2021). ~60,000 workers employed, per the PM (May 2023). Sources: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, MeitY and the Prime Minister's Office via PIB; New India Samachar; Lok Sabha replies; Lok Sabha Secretariat.
Data current to: October 2019 to 30 June 2025
Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office via PIB, and Lok Sabha replies — the timeline dates the building from the award of the design consultancy (October 2019) to its listing as a completed Central Vista project (June 2025); the headline, 888 Lok Sabha seats, is from New India Samachar, published by PIB (linked). · link