New Delhi: Aiming to create greater synergy between various central ministries and departments, the Modi government has firmed up plans to build a Common Secretariat in Delhi.

The new mega building will come up on Lodhi Road in central Delhi. The Rs 20,000 crore project will involve demolition of residential complexes housing 4,000 families. The new secretariat will come up in five years.

As per a report in the Economic Times, the proposal will be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his final approval.

The report adds that important ministries functioning out of North Block and South Block – home, defence, finance and external affairs - on Raisina Hill are unlikely to be relocated.

The Prime Minister's office located in South Block will also not move to the new complex, the report adds.

But other ministries and departments that jostle for space in Krishi Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan etc will all be relocated to the common secretariat.

However, the government is yet to decide on how to use these bhawans once the offices shift to the new secretariat. One proposal is to convert, at least a part, of the building into museums and lease the rest for office space.