(This story originally appeared in on Feb 05, 2015)

NEW DELHI: The country's largest 'iconic' new secretariat, which is being touted as an "intelligent" complex, spread over about two crore sq meter covered area will come up in the central part of Delhi. While two regions have been shortlisted for this campus, the complex is likely to be built in Lodhi Estate , which would involve demolition of about 1,100 government flats. People living in these houses will be provided alternative accommodation.Sources said a blueprint of the project has been prepared and it would come up for discussion at a meeting next week that will be chaired by principal secretary to the Prime Minister. The Narendra Modi government has put emphasis on a "smart complex" that can accommodate almost all the key ministries under one roof. The second area being explored is Sunehri Bagh in Central Delhi.Sources said that the USP of this proposed office complex would be smart multi-modal transport, full access control, complete monitoring of employees movement and of the visitors and zero waste. The new secretariat, as it was first reported by TOI in November, would have 6-7 towers each having about 40 storeys."The basement of the complex would be used for a Metro station and for other modes of public transport. The employees can directly take lifts from the station to reach their offices. It will be managed through IT applications and facilities. The RFID based cards would be used to enter the complex. This will record entry and exit of everyone in this complex. There would also be CCTVs and scanner for security reasons," said an official, who did not wish to be named.TOI has learnt that all services within the complex would be monitored completely. For example, the central monitoring cell can find out which committee rooms have been emptied after meetings so that the lights and ACs can be switched from the central office itself. "It would have all smart facilities to qualify as a green building by using renewable energy and recycling waste water," a source said.Officials also said that this complex will meet the shortage of office space to accommodate major ministries. However, they added that there have been instances where ministries have preferred to keep their old offices in South Block even after complexes have been built with huge government investment and despite ministries occupying these new offices too.