Vigyan Bhawan

Vigyan Bhawan ("science building") is a premier conference centre of the Government of India in New Delhi. Built in 1956, over the years it has been the venue of conferences of national and international stature, seminars and award ceremonies attended by distinguished world leaders and dignitari es, including Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 1983, 7th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), March 7–12, 1983, and SAARC Summit.[1] It is managed by the Directorate of Estates, under the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, and maintained by CPWD.[2]

Vigyan Bhawan
Main entrance to the Vigyan Bhawan
AddressMaulana Azad Road,
New Delhi-110003, India
LocationNew Delhi
Coordinates28°36′37.49″N 77°13′14.93″E
OwnerGovernment of India
Built1956
Enclosed space

It only holds National-level functions and conferences, and functions by the Government of India, State Governments, PSUs and Autonomous Bodies order by priority given.[3] It is allotted to NGOs/Private Enterprises where either the President, Vice President or the Prime Minister of India are present.[3] It also holds various award ceremonies, including the annual National Film Awards.[4]

Architecture

The main building was designed in 1955 by R.P.Gehlote of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) belonging to Jaipur, incorporating elements of British Raj architecture, evident in the nearby buildings of the Secretariat Building and of Lutyens' Delhi along with Hindu and Mughal architecture, as well as ancient Buddhist architecture, especially the chaitya arches of Ajanta Caves. The overall style of the building remains modernistic with revivalist elements.[5]

Overview

The main feature of the complex is the Plenary hall, with a seating capacity of over 1200(922+326+37)[6] delegates, besides it has six smaller halls with capacities ranging from over 65 delegates to over 375 delegates. The building also has a VIP Lounge, the Office block for on-site offices, secretariat and a documentation centre, a Studio, a Business centre and an Exhibition hall. The adjacent building is called the Vigyan Bhavan Annexe added later on with four Committee Rooms and a separate Media centre.[7] The annexe also houses the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) of Government of India[8] and INVEST INDIA, the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency. The Vigyan Bhawan Annexe stands adjacent to the Vice President House.

F&B services at 'The Atrium' at the centre are managed by the Ashok Group of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).[9]

As a part of Central Vista Redevelopment Project, Vigyan Bhavan will be demolished and a new Central Conference Center will be built besides National Archives.[10]

References
  1. "Vigyan Bhavan" (PDF). Ministry of Commerce (Government of India). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011.
  2. "Vigyan Bhawan". Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  3. "Guidelines for Allotment" (PDF). Directorate of Estates. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2017.
  4. "President to present 54th National Film Awards on Sept 2". The Hindu. 28 August 2008. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
  5. Lang, Jon T. (2002). A concise history of modern architecture in India. Orient Blackswan. p. 36. ISBN 81-7824-017-3.
  6. "dlvigyanbhawanbooking" (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  7. "Details of Facilities" (PDF). Directorate of Estates. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2017.
  8. "About us". Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
  9. ITDC website.
  10. Gupta, Moushumi Das (1 December 2020). "Doughnut-shaped buildings, underground shuttle — how new Central Secretariat will look like". The Print. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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