Cabinet approves Rs 3,230-crore Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum project
The museum will transform the historic North and South Block buildings into the world's largest display area for cultural heritage.
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at a cost of Rs 3,230 crore, according to The Indian Express.
The project involves the adaptive reuse of the 100-year-old North and South Block buildings in New Delhi, covering 1.78 lakh square metres. The Culture Ministry stated that the museum will feature the largest display area in the world when benchmarked against international institutions.
The museum is being designed to accommodate more than one crore visitors annually. It will include thematic galleries, conservation facilities, and visitor amenities to showcase India's civilisational journey.
Officials said the work will proceed in stages over five years, with a target completion date of 2030-31. The first gallery, named ‘Adornment’, is expected to open to the public in approximately one year.
The Ministry of Culture has appointed Los Angeles-based architect Kulapat Yantrasast as the principal architect following a public tender last year. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the project after a Public Investment Board appraisal in July.
Around 1.8 million objects have been identified from the National Museum, 52 ASI site museums, various state museums, and private collections for the museum's content.