'Yuge Yugeen Bharat': Raisina Hill's Iconic Secretariat Buildings To Undergo Restoration For World's Largest Museum

The iconic North and South Blocks on Raisina Hill in New Delhi are set to undergo phased repair and restoration to accommodate the proposed 'Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum'.

Yuge Yugeen Bharat is an under-construction museum in New Delhi, which will be the largest museum in the world,with an area of 117,000 square meters and 950 rooms.

It will be housed in the existing Secretariat buildings, both north and South blocks and replace the National Museum of India as national museum.

This ambitious project aims to preserve the architectural legacy of the nearly century-old twin secretariat buildings while creating a state-of-the-art cultural repository.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is spearheading the restoration effort, beginning with the North Block in the initial phase.

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), under MoHUA, has recently secured approval from the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) to undertake efforts that will enhance the building's longevity.

“MoHUA is working on the timeline for vacating and restoring the Blocks. Retrofitting and refurbishment will take place in a phased manner. The project will begin with the North Block after it is vacated," an official was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

The HCC scrutinised and approved the proposal for the “restoration and comprehensive repairs” of the North Block during a meeting held on 24 October.

The restoration guidelines, outlined in the HCC minutes, emphasise maintaining the original heritage character of the buildings.

The CPWD has been directed to ensure that the repairs maintain the originality of existing heritage building in terms of character, construction, colour, form and materials, and no external intervention is allowed including heat resistant paint on the terrace.

The North and South Blocks are Grade-I heritage properties and have been housing key ministries since independence.

Over the years, internal partitions were added to create more office space.

Currently, the North Block accommodates the Ministries of Home, Finance, and Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.

Simultaneously with the restoration efforts, the Ministry of Culture has initiated discussions to finalise the storyline and theme of the galleries and exhibits to be displayed at Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum.

According to the officials, National Museum’s internal Content Committee has been conducting meetings to identify objects for display.

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