7,000 Defence ministry staffers to shift to new offices

A Rs 775-crore office complex for the defence ministry, which will accommodate personnel operating from decades-old hutment along Raisina Hill, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The new buildings, at Africa Avenue and KG Marg, will house over 7,000 personnel from various departments of the ministry, including the Directorate General of Armed Forces Medical Services.

The project will also free up space for the central vista redevelopment project, with almost 50 acres being vacated from around Raisina Hill by the forces in favour of the new buildings. Sources said that the shifting process for personnel will start within days of the inaugural function.

Officials said that work has progressed at a fast pace for the project, with construction being completed for 9.6 lakh square feet office space in just over a year. It will also significantly add to available office space for the ministry, which will vacate 9.2 lakh square feet from the hutments.


The vacated space will go to various new buildings planned as part of the central vista project, officials said, adding that as of now personnel from South Block will not shift to these offices.

“Over 7,000 officers and staff belonging to 27 different organisations attached to offices of MoD, service headquarters and other subordinate offices are going to get new office complexes,” officials said.

The construction work has been carried out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as part of the Central Vista project, with the defence ministry coordinating the requirements of its organisations that are being shifted.

Infuture, the iconic DRDO Bhawan behind South Block is also likely to make way for new buildings as part of the redevelopment plan.

Officials said that in addition to office space, there is provision for multi-level car parking for over 1,500 vehicles in the new complexes. Existing trees have not been disturbed as part of the design plan.