NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said suggestions have been invited from experts on the future use of the Old Parliament Building (Samvidhan Sadan) and a final decision will be taken at the general body meeting of Lok Sabha under his chairmanship. The govt has maintained that the building will be preserved and put to efficient use.Responding to a question from TOI on the building’s fate, Birla said, “We have sought suggestions from different experts and we are also holding discussions with them. After getting all inputs, this will be discussed at the general body meeting of Lok Sabha under the Speaker’s chairmanship, which is attended by all floor leaders (of political parties).”“We will finalise after deliberations. Even when the new Parliament Building was built, the final decision on the use of new building was taken by the same general body,” he said.Officials said that the Old Parliament Building will be conserved as an archaeological asset and an icon of the country’s democratic history. There is also a plan to carry out retrofitting, create more functional spaces for offices and parliamentary events, and convert a part of the building into ‘Museum of Democracy’.While speaking at the Central Hall, bidding adieu to the Old Parliament Building, on Sept 19, 2023, PM Narendra Modi had suggested not to refer to it as the ‘Old Parliament’ and leave it behind. “I request that in future, if both of you gentlemen (Speaker and Vice-President) agree, then it should be known as the ‘Samvidhan Sadan’. This way, it will forever remain an inspiration in our lives.”“And, when we call it ‘Samvidhan Sadan’, then the memory of those great men, the distinguished great men, who once used to sit here in the Constituent Assembly, will also be associated with it. Therefore, we should not miss the opportunity to give this gift to future generations,” he had said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCongress MP says India remains “heavily invested emotionally and politically” in Bangladesh”Our Youth Is Creative And Innovative,” PM Modi At Viksit Bharat Dialogue“Deeply Impressed,” CEOs Share Takeaways After Meeting PM Modi | VideoFrom Defence To AI: PM Modi Urges German CEOs To Make India Their Global Manufacturing Base’Real Friends Always…’: Trump’s New Envoy Sergio Gor Pledges To Reset India-US TiesNot Trade Or Defence: Why Four-Year Old Baby Ariha Shah Became Key Topic In Modi–Germany TalksAAP’s Raghav Chadha Turns Blinkit Delivery Agent for a Day Amid Gig Workers’ Row’Will Come to Mumbai, Try Cutting My Legs: Annamalai Hits Back at Raj ThackerayIndia Tests Indigenous Fire And Forget Anti-Tank Missile With Top Attack Strike On Moving TargetsShaksgam Valley Row Deepens As China Rejects India’s Claim And Defends CPEC Infra Project With Pak123Photostories5 animals that survive by pretending to be deadHow to make Halwai Style Aloo Sabji at homeFrom mindful portions to intermittent fasting: When Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’s Munmun Dutta gave a peek into her disciplined diet and daily routineTimothée Chalamet to Jacob Elordi: The Men of the 2026 Golden Globes who delivered a masterclass in modern tailoringThalapathy Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ delayed: 8 must-watch OTT hits to streamTamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026: Alliances, numbers and the battle for 234 seats5 jungle survival tips Bear Grylls swears by, and how they apply beyond the wildChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 5 crunchy snack recipes to enjoy with chai during winter `Best horror dramas on Apple TV: ‘The Enfield Poltergeist’, ‘Servant’ and moreFrom Zubeen Garg death to ‘vote chori’: Key political issues in 2026 Assam Assembly polls123Hot PicksISRO PSLV-C62 missionTrump tariffsGold rate todayBengaluru newsCigarette price hikePublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingStephen Curry BrotherLebron JamesMatthew and Brady Tkachuks Combined Net WorthVanessa BryantBengaluru Girl RapeConnor McDavidISRO LaunchGeorge Valera Net WorthNandani SharmaDarius Slay
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said suggestions have been invited from experts on the future use of the Old Parliament Building (Samvidhan Sadan) and a final decision will be taken at the general body meeting of Lok Sabha under his chairmanship. The govt has maintained that the building will be preserved and put to efficient use.Responding to a question from TOI on the building’s fate, Birla said, “We have sought suggestions from different experts and we are also holding discussions with them. After getting all inputs, this will be discussed at the general body meeting of Lok Sabha under the Speaker’s chairmanship, which is attended by all floor leaders (of political parties).”“We will finalise after deliberations. Even when the new Parliament Building was built, the final decision on the use of new building was taken by the same general body,” he said.Officials said that the Old Parliament Building will be conserved as an archaeological asset and an icon of the country’s democratic history. There is also a plan to carry out retrofitting, create more functional spaces for offices and parliamentary events, and convert a part of the building into ‘Museum of Democracy’.While speaking at the Central Hall, bidding adieu to the Old Parliament Building, on Sept 19, 2023, PM Narendra Modi had suggested not to refer to it as the ‘Old Parliament’ and leave it behind. “I request that in future, if both of you gentlemen (Speaker and Vice-President) agree, then it should be known as the ‘Samvidhan Sadan’. This way, it will forever remain an inspiration in our lives.”“And, when we call it ‘Samvidhan Sadan’, then the memory of those great men, the distinguished great men, who once used to sit here in the Constituent Assembly, will also be associated with it. Therefore, we should not miss the opportunity to give this gift to future generations,” he had said.
![Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup](https://vknewstoday.in/wp-content/uploads/1776198165_photo.jpg "Zoji La [Ladakh] SRINAGAR: Zoji La tunnel, an upcoming strategic corridor that will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, is nearing a defining moment, with engineers inching towards a “breakthrough” final blast expected around May 30.Work is progressing at about four meters per day from both ends — Sonamarg (Baltal) in Kashmir and Minamarg in Ladakh — using controlled drilling and blasting. Only 300 meters of the 13.155km tunnel is left to excavate, Harpal Singh, chief operating officer (COO) of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL), told TOI. The Hyderabad-based company is executing the project.“The final blast will bring the excavation phase to a close, completing the tunnel’s core structure,” Singh said, adding the blast will signal the physical connection between Kashmir and Ladakh.According to Singh, this historic milestone will be achieved by reducing tunnel excavation to zero within 30 to 35 days. “Breakthrough will ensure speedy construction of the remaining works, including concrete lining, permanent tunnel drainage, installation of surveillance equipment, control buildings, underground transformers and (traffic) smoke control systems,” Singh explained.The tunnel is still another two-and-a-half years from completion. Before it is opened to the public, the breakthrough will allow construction teams and machines to move seamlessly between two ends, streamlining work. “The teams and equipment can move through the tunnel without any hassle,” Singh said, adding this will help sustain construction through winters when heavy snowfall in Sonamarg halts surface movement.The tunnel will reduce distance between the two ends (Sonamarg and Minamarg) from 49km to 43km and increase vehicle speeds from 30kmph to 70kmph, officials said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSamrat Chaudhary Becomes Bihar CM: A Political Journey Marked by Setbacks and ReinventionIran Expresses Confidence In India’s BRICS Presidency Amid West Asia ConflictPM Modi, Donald Trump Hold 40-Min Phone Call, Discuss Strait Of Hormuz, West Asia SituationPak Enters Noida? Stunning Twist To Wage War As Workers Riot In NCR; Yogi Minister Drops BombshellFuel Price Freeze Amid Hormuz Crisis Is Costing Oil Companies Thousands of Crores DailyChina Defends Renaming Places In Arunachal After India Slams Beijing’s ‘Mischievous Attempt’Bihar DY CM Puzzle for JDU, Nishant Kumar Reluctance Complicates NDA MathNitish Kumar Resigns After 20 Years as Bihar CM; BJP Names Samrat Choudhary as SuccessorWomen’s Reservation Bill Explained: How 850-Seat Lok Sabha Plan Promises To Change Indian PoliticsExplained: Supreme Court Backs Right to Vote but Denies Relief to Bengal’s Deleted Voters123PhotostoriesWhy this new rice variety is called ‘Designer Rice’ and how it will impact your protein intake10 free things to do in Noida that are actually worth your timeHow to make Chef Sanjeev Kapoor-style Langarwali Dal6 essential real estate investment strategies for first-time buyers9 unique food etiquette rules from around the worldTop 5 IT hubs in India driving real estate demandArgue without breaking up: 5 simple rules every couple needs to know‘Bhooth Bangla’, ‘Dacoit’ To ‘The Drama’: What to watch in theatres this Week5 things you can bake beyond bread in an OTGIsrael–Lebanon tensions flare again: Inside Hezbollah’s arsenal and Lebanon’s military hand against Israel123Hot PicksIran warStock market holidayPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingDelhi-Dehradun ExpresswayStock market holidayBank holiday todayKaty PerryAnna Kepner murderDon TzuPraful HingeIPL Points TableKavya MaranNFL news roundup")
