Key highlights
- The move is framed under the Central Vista administration-and-infrastructure push, positioned as modern governance capacity-building. Press Information Bureau
- The change is not just aesthetics: it’s about space, modern systems, and long-run institutional functionality. Press Information Bureau+1
Why shift at all?
India’s old Parliament building carries heritage weight—but modern legislatures run on:
- security architecture
- digital systems
- larger working spaces and committee capacity
- visitor management at scale
PIB’s Central Vista explainer frames the project as “smarter administration” and governance infrastructure modernisation. Press Information Bureau
What changed in day-to-day terms?
- Estate management becomes more structured (passes, gates, protocols)
- Visitor flows and access rules tighten
- Support infrastructure improves (utilities, movement corridors, security scanning)
Parliament Estate documentation on sansad.in reflects the procedural, security, and administrative reality of running the complex. Digital Sansad+1
Small questions people actually search
Did the old Parliament shut down?
It didn’t “disappear.” It continues as a critical heritage and institutional space, now used within the Parliament Estate framework. Digital Sansad+1
Does this affect citizens?
Yes—mainly through how visits are managed and how Parliament runs logistics during sessions. Digital Sansad+1
Can Citizens Visit the Old Parliament Building? Rules, Access, and Tours
Key highlights
- Parliament Estate access is pass-based—no entry without a valid pass, even if accompanied by an MP (security protocol). Digital Sansad+1
- Visitor visits increasingly run through online approval + QR code protocols for gallery access. Digital Sansad
- Pass issuance and reception/counters are described through official Parliament bulletins and notices. Parliament Digital Library+1
The plain truth
You can’t treat the Old Parliament building like a casual tourist monument. It’s inside a high-security estate.
What access looks like in practice
1) Watching proceedings (Visitors’ Galleries)
This is the classic route—but it’s regulated:
- applications/approvals
- identity verification
- on-visit protocol (QR code, time slot rules)
Official visitor management instructions mention QR-based approval and visit-day steps. Digital Sansad
2) Pass issuance is centralised
Parliament bulletins describe reception office / centralised pass issue counters and operational arrangements. Parliament Digital Library
3) Entry rules are strict
Official security notices clearly state: no entry without a valid pass, even with MPs, as a security requirement. Digital Sansad+1
Small questions people actually search
Can I just go and request a tour at the gate?
Not realistically. Start with official Parliament/Sansad visitor forms/protocols and plan it as a scheduled visit. Digital Sansad+1
Is Central Hall accessible?
Entry is regulated via rules/directions and pass-based controls.
