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The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will soon relocate from its long-time base at Nirman Bhawan to Kartavya Bhavan, marking a key milestone in the government’s ongoing Central Vista redevelopment project that aims to modernise the administrative heart of New Delhi. According to an office memorandum issued by the Directorate of Estates, seen by News18, the authority has approved the relocation of the health ministry to the newly built Kartavya Bhavan-01, where it will occupy office spaces on the first and second floors, along with underground rooms. To all the staffers, dedicated parking spaces will be allotted separately, the office memorandum said. “The competent authority has approved the relocation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to the newly built Kartavya Bhavan-1 building,” said the OM dated October 17. Along with the health ministry, the Kartavya Bhavan will house offices of the ministries/departments of home affairs, external affairs, rural development, ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), department of personnel & training (DoPT), petroleum & natural gas, and the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA). To ensure a seamless transition, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has established a facilitation centre. The centre will help ministry officials settle into the upgraded facility by assisting them with the movement of inventories, understanding the new service systems provided by the CPWD, and familiarising them with available spaces, facilities, and safety protocols. Officials will also be guided through the building’s security layout, parking areas, and internal movement plan to enable a smooth and efficient shift. “The process of shifting has already begun. The Health Ministry is considered one of the key ministries of the Modi government, and its relocation under the Central Vista redevelopment project underscores the importance the current regime places on the health sector,” a senior official from the ministry told News18. The move marks the end of an era of Nirman Bhawan, a government office block constructed between the 1950s and 1970s. Once a flagship of post-Independence infrastructure, the building is now considered structurally outdated when compared to the latest structures. The relocation comes two months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan, the first of 10 proposed Common Central Secretariat buildings under the Central Vista project. The wider redevelopment plan includes the new Parliament building, the Vice President’s Enclave, and the revamped Kartavya Path, earlier known as Rajpath. Designed to bring together over 50 ministries under one integrated and energy-efficient complex, Kartavya Bhavan is equipped with advanced digital connectivity, improved security systems, and sustainable features—a sharp contrast to the old infrastructure of the colonial-era offices it replaces. In August, the prime minister’s office in a press release explained that this new building is designed to use 30 per cent less energy. “It has special glass windows to keep the building cool and reduce outside noise.” Also, energy-saving LED lights, sensors that switch off lights when not needed, smart lifts that save power, and an advanced system to manage electricity use will all help save energy. Solar panels on the roof of Kartavya Bhavan-03 will generate over 5.34 lakh units of electricity every year. Charging stations for electric vehicles are also provided. To expedite the process, the health ministry has been asked to appoint nodal officers to coordinate with the CPWD facilitation desk during the relocation process.
