'Endangering Workers, Squandering Scarce Resources': Experts Call For 'Immediate Halt' on Central Vista Redevelopment

Scholars, artists, museum professionals, historians and curators have written to the Central Government calling for an immediate suspension of the Central Vista Redevelopment Plan in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, mentioning that it is also endangering the lives of workers engaged in the revamp.

A statement issued by historians, scholars and others called for an "immediate halt" on work on the project which began in December last year and continues, with it being labelled an "essential service".

"It is especially troubling that this extravagant project is moving ahead in the midst of a devastating pandemic, endangering workers, and squandering scarce resources that could be used to save lives," the statement said.

The authors of the statement addressed the upcoming demolition and relocation of the National Museum of India, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and the National Archives Annexe. Preparations have already been made to bring down the IGNCA and the statement mentioned that Delhi's urban planning had a "clear logic" in keeping these buildings in proximity to one another.

"The National Museum, in particular, has historical value and requires renovation and augmentation, not demolition. The rushed destruction of these structures will cause irrevocable harm to world-renowned institutions that have been painstakingly built over decades," they said, mentioning that the Central Vista demolition "threatens the collections" of these buildings.

"Even under normal circumstances, it would be a complex and risky operation to shift the diverse and irreplaceable treasures of the National Museum, the archival records held in the National Archives, and the manuscript holdings of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. The current pandemic only exacerbates these risks," their statement said.

The experts also criticised the manner in which the project was being carried out, saying it "runs contrary to established practices worldwide." They mentioned that such plans across the world are "preceded by widespread consultations and consensus building" even when designs are finally laid out, "let alone moving collections indefinitely."

Mentioning that details around the Central Vista demolition were "opaque", the experts said that it was "unclear" how artifacts from the National Museum would be stored and displayed in the North and South blocks, according to the plan. "As the National Museum’s collection still lacks a complete inventory of its holdings, this relocation is hazardous. The extent to which these collections will continue to be publicly accessible is also unknown," they reasoned.

Urging the government to "reconsider" its "misguided scheme", they wrote: "For the short term, this project should be immediately suspended, and all priorities and resources directed to combating the pandemic. In the long term, however, this hiatus should be followed by extensive public consultations so that the future of India’s institutions, heritage architecture, and historical collections can be determined through a democratic process."