The two Central government office complexes on Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue in Delhi are expected to be ready by March 2021 in order to shift offices from the Central Vista.

The work is being implemented under the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). This comes in the backdrop of the redevelopment project for the Central Vista, which envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat and revamping of the Rajpath from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate.

The two sites will be able to accommodate around 15,000 employees of various defence agencies, which have offices near the North and South Blocks.

The shifting of the offices will pave the way for the Prime Minister's new residence and office, and the Vice-President's residence. The construction work at the two sites on Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue had started in August 2020.

Pre-engineered building technology has been deployed and this has reduced construction time from the usual 24 months for conventional buildings to eight months.

The projects are environment-friendly as the steel structures are being manufactured in other locations and assembled at the sites. The buildings on Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue will cost Rs 532 crore.

The CPWD is using pre-engineered building (PEB) technology to build 44,000 sq mtr built-up area at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, and 49,000 sq mtr built up area at Africa Avenue.

The foundation consists of reinforced cement concrete with crystalline admixture and zinc cathodic protection system to reduce porosity of concrete and corrosion of reinforcement bars, thus increasing its durability.