No more tussles between monkeys, rats and langurs in South Block as ultra-modern defence complex gets inaugurated

As the ultra-modern complexes of the Ministry of Defence got inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the chances of tussles between the monkeys, rats and government deployed langurs to keep them away is likely to be the thing of the past. As part of the Central Vista Revamp Plan new office complexes for defence officials have been constructed at a cost of ₹775 crore provided by the defence ministry. The two complexes at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Africa Avenue will accommodate more than 7,000 defence officials and would have parking space for 1,500 cars.

The defence officials are moving into the new offices from their workplaces which are several decades old in a clutch of pre-Independence era hutments in the vicinity of the North and South Blocks. 80 years ago, during the second world war, some of these hutments had served as barracks and as stables for British Army horses. Optimal use of available land has been made. The complex at Kasturba Gandhi Marg has three blocks and an office area of 4.52 lakh square feet. Africa Avenue complex is spread across four blocks and offers a space of 5.08 lakh square feet.