PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of New Parliament Building on Thursday in New Delhi.

Modi also performed the ground-breaking ceremony in the presence of Pujaris from the Sringeri Math Karnataka who conducted various rituals for the bhoomi pujan.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, foreign Envoys and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla were also present at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Parliament building, reports ANI.

The new building is the prime element of the 20,000 crore Central Vista project, which aims to build and renovate the government buildings on part of the 13.4-km Rajpath that stretches from the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan to the iconic war memorial India Gate.

The project was announced in September last year and envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for 900 to 1,200 MPs, that is to be constructed by August 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day.

The proposed building at Central vista will have seating capacity for 888 members in the Lok Sabha Chamber with an option to increase to 1224 Members during Joint Sessions.

The Rajya Sabha chamber on the other hand will have a seating capacity for 384 members. 

The increased sitting capacity is in the view of extending number limit of legislators in both the house.