Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated Seva Teerth, a new integrated complex in Delhi that will now house the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) along with Kartavya Bhavan 1 and 2. The move marks a major transition in the functioning of the country’s top executive offices, with the PMO shifting out of the historic South Block. The nearly century-old building will now be converted into a museum.
Addressing officials after the inauguration, Modi said the memories linked to the old PMO would always remain significant, noting that several key decisions that shaped modern India were taken there. “That building is an important chapter in India’s journey,” he said.
Explaining the reason behind the relocation, the Prime Minister said the colonial-era structures were no longer suited to the demands of present-day governance. According to him, the ageing buildings lacked adequate space and infrastructure to support new technologies and an expanding administrative setup. He also pointed out that the government was spending over Rs 1,500 crore annually on rented office spaces and additional logistics costs to transport thousands of employees working from scattered locations.
The Seva Teerth complex will bring together the PMO, the National Security Council Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat under one roof. Meanwhile, Kartavya Bhavan 1 and 2 will accommodate several key ministries, including Finance, Defence, Health and Family Welfare, Education, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Law and Justice, and others.
Framing the shift in broader terms, Modi said buildings such as South Block and North Block were constructed during British rule to reflect imperial authority. In contrast, he said the new complex symbolises governance aligned with the aspirations of an independent India. Referring to Raisina Hills, he remarked that colonial planners had positioned their buildings to dominate the skyline, whereas Seva Teerth is designed to feel more accessible and connected to the people.
“It is important that our vision of Viksit Bharat is visible not only in our policies but also in the spaces where decisions are made,” he said, adding that the new complex would serve the ambitions of 140 crore Indians.
Earlier in the day, Modi chaired the final Cabinet meeting at South Block, formally bringing official operations at the historic site to a close.
From the new PMO, he approved the rollout of the RAHAT scheme, expanded the target under the Lakhpati Didi initiative, and increased funding for the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, signalling a continued emphasis on welfare and rural development as work begins from the new premises.