PMO may get new address this Diwali, first relocation since Independence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to move into his new office in the Executive Enclave under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project on or soon after Diwali, according to senior government officials. This shift will mark the relocation of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) from South Block, where it has been located since India’s independence in 1947.

The new PMO will be housed in “Sewa Tirath-1,” one of three newly constructed buildings in the Executive Enclave-I, located next to Vayu Bhawan. The two other buildings, Sewa Tirath-2 and Sewa Tirath-3, are set to accommodate the Cabinet Secretariat and the National Security Advisor’s Office. On October 14, Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan held a high-level meeting with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and the three service chiefs in Sewa Tirath-2, indicating that some operations have already begun in the new complex.

Part of a larger effort to overhaul Delhi’s central administrative zone, the Central Vista Redevelopment Project aims to reorganise and modernize government infrastructure along what was formerly Rajpath, now renamed Kartavya Path. The 3-km stretch is being redeveloped into a more pedestrian-friendly and integrated government district.

The current South Block and North Block buildings, which have housed India’s top offices for decades, are planned to be converted into museums under the proposed ‘Yuga Yugin Bharat Sangrahalaya’ project. An agreement has been signed with France’s Museum Development Agency to support the transformation. These buildings are expected to showcase India’s political and cultural history.

Prime Minister Modi has publicly argued that many key ministries have operated from outdated colonial-era buildings that face limitations in terms of space, natural light, and ventilation. The Central Vista project, according to the government, is intended to address these constraints while improving administrative efficiency.

As part of this revamp, new Common Central Secretariat (CCS) buildings are being built to consolidate ministries that are currently spread across various parts of Delhi. One such building, Kartavya Bhawan, was inaugurated last month and is already housing multiple ministries. Three additional CCS buildings are reported to be ready for occupancy.

The government has set a target to complete the Central Vista redevelopment, including the Prime Minister’s new residence near South Block, by the end of 2027. Plans also include the introduction of automated people movers to connect key government buildings and reduce congestion in the area.

The move to the new Executive Enclave reflects a broader administrative shift, but also carries historical weight, as it ends the PMO’s 78-year presence in South Block — a space long associated with India’s post-independence political history.

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