India got its new Parliament on Sunday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it. Ever wondered about the brain behind the magnificent building? Here's the lowdown on Bimal Patel
Credit for the construction of the new Parliament building, inaugurated by PM Modi on Sunday, goes to Bimal Patel. But who is he?
Patel is an architect, urbanist, academician and also the architect behind the new Parliament building. The new Parliament building comes under the Central Vista project
Bimal Patel studied architecture at Ahmedabad’s Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) in 1984. Patel completed his master’s degree in Architecture and City Planning in 1988. He got a PhD in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley in 1995
Bimal Patel’s firm HCP Designs got the consultancy bid in October 2019 for the Central government’s Central Vista redevelopment project, including the Parliament and Rajpath. The project also comprises the development of a Common Central Secretariat for several ministries
Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said Patel’s firm will be paid around Rs 230 crore for consultancy services. Puri said the firm will be tasked with preparing the master plan of the project including designs, cost estimation, landscape and traffic integration plans and parking facilities
Patel is also known for structures like Bhuj Development Plan and Town Planning Schemes after the 2001 earthquake, Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi, and Sabarmati Riverfront Development in Ahmedabad
As per Patel, the new Parliament building is in a triangular shape as it is based on a triangular plot and comprises three spaces—Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and a Central Lounge. Patel said the inspiration behind the triangular shape of the Parliament came from the various religions and cultures of India
India’s national bird Peacock is the theme of the Lok Sabha chamber. While the national flower lotus is the theme of the Rajya Sabha chamber, the national tree banyan is the theme of the Central Lounge courtyard
Patel has also included various parts of India in the new Parliament’s design. The Parliament comprises sandstone from Dholpur, granite from Jaisalmer’s Lakha village, carpets from UP’s Bhadohi and Kashmir, and woodwork from Maharashtra’s craftsmen