Murals created by artist Satish Gujral in 1968 on the facade of Shastri Bhawan will be removed and relocated ahead of the building's demolition under the Central Vista project.
The Central Public Works Department has issued a tender for the demolition of Shastri Bhawan and adjoining Krishi Bhawan to make way for two new office buildings, Common Central Secretariat (Kartavya Bhawan) 4 and 5. The tender, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,218.44 crore, has a bid submission deadline of June 6.
The Ministry of Culture, National Gallery of Modern Art and Gujral Foundation are developing a plan to remove the ceramic tile murals that span the seven-storey building. The final location for the relocated murals has not yet been decided.
Mohit Gujral, son of the artist, said the National Gallery of Modern Art has consulted conservation experts on the methodology. Art consultant Kishore Singh noted that Satish Gujral studied mural techniques in Mexico and created similar works for other Delhi buildings, describing the relocation as a progressive step.
Demolition work on the structures is expected to begin soon, with the murals to be removed within a month. Nirman Bhawan was demolished last month as part of the same redevelopment plan.
