Prime Minister lays foundation stone of paperless Vanijya Bhawan

<p><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</strong> laid the foundation stone of <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Vanijya Bhawan</strong>, a new office complex for the <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Union Department of Commerce</strong>, in New Delhi on June 22, 2018.</p> <p>The <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Bhawan</strong>, located near the <strong style="font-weight: bold;">India Gate</strong>, will be built on a plot of 4.33 acres, belonging to previous <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals</strong> (<strong style="font-weight: bold;">DGS&amp;D</strong>).</p> <p>While retaining the Central Vista architecture, the <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Vanijya Bhawan</strong> will have all modern technology-driven features.&nbsp; Once ready, it will accommodate about 1000 officers and staff.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Vanijya Bhawan to be a green building!</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>It will be a completely paperless office with state-of-the-art-facilities such as <strong>smart access control, central air-conditioning, video conferencing and completely networked systems</strong>.</li> <li>It will also be a green building with all the required certifications.</li> <li>The layout of the building has been planned so as to minimise the number of trees that would have to be cut.</li> <li>More than 56% of the 214 trees on the plot are either being left untouched or are being replanted on the same plot.</li> <li>While about 70% of the big trees have been saved, 230 new trees are being planted on the same plot, thereby ensuring an increase in tree cover on the site after construction of the new building.</li> </ul> <div></div> <div><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Significance</strong></div> <div>The new building aims to become a symbol of India's growing economic might and the adoption and use of <strong>technology </strong>in <strong>governance</strong>.</div> <div></div> <div><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Background</strong></div> <div>The <strong>Department of Commerce</strong> is currently housed in Udyog Bhawan, which also houses a large number of other <strong>Government of India</strong> departments, leading to a constraint of space.</div> <div></div> <div>A few of its attached and subordinate offices like the <strong>Directorate General of Trade Remedies</strong> (<strong>DGTR</strong>) and <strong>Government e-Marketplace</strong> (<strong>GeM</strong>) operate from rented premises.</div> <p>&nbsp;</p>