Centre Unveils Rs 735-Crore Plan For Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum In North, South Blocks | Exclusive

The Centre has finally unveiled its plan to build the ambitious Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM) on Raisina Hill.
CNN-News18 has accessed a government document detailing a ₹735-crore plan for the first major construction package of the ambitious project, marking a significant step in transforming the iconic North and South Blocks into one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to India’s civilisational history.

The document puts a completion timeline of 26 months, by 2028. The North and South Blocks on Raisina Hill have already been vacated for the purpose of this museum.

The package covers critical infrastructure works, including the Ticketing Plaza, Service Tunnel, Facade and Courtyard works, lifts, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP)

services, and installation of equipment.

Unlike exhibition or gallery-related contracts, this package focuses on creating the core infrastructure that will enable the museum to function. The proposed Ticketing Plaza will serve as the museum’s main public entrance, housing ticketing counters, visitor reception facilities, security screening and queue management systems.

One of the most significant components is the construction of an underground service tunnel connecting the North and South Blocks. The tunnel is expected to carry essential utility services such as electrical cables, HVAC pipelines, water supply, fire-fighting systems and communication networks, while also facilitating maintenance operations without disrupting visitor movement.

The project also includes extensive heritage conservation work on the sandstone facades of the two historic buildings, involving restoration, masonry repairs and preservation of their architectural character. The courtyards within the blocks will undergo redevelopment to create additional exhibition and public spaces, while maintaining the heritage integrity of the structures.

The package further provides for installation of passenger, service and accessible lifts, along with comprehensive MEP infrastructure. This includes museum-grade air-conditioning systems, electrical distribution, plumbing, drainage, fire detection and suppression systems, building management systems, lighting and power backup. Such systems are considered essential for maintaining controlled environmental conditions required for preserving valuable artefacts.

The Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum is among the flagship cultural projects under the Centre’s broader Central Vista redevelopment initiative. Once completed, it will occupy the historic North and South Blocks after government ministries shift to the newly constructed Common Central Secretariat.

The museum is planned to span nearly 1.55 lakh square metres, making it one of the largest museums in the world. It is expected to showcase India’s civilisational journey spanning over 5,000 years, through multiple galleries, immersive exhibitions and modern digital experiences.

Officials have previously indicated that the museum will integrate cutting-edge technology with heritage architecture to present India’s history, culture, science, spirituality and democratic traditions in a contemporary format.

With the ₹735-crore Package-1 now out for bidding, the government has taken a major step towards the physical execution of the landmark project. The completion of this foundational package will pave the way for subsequent exhibition and gallery works, bringing the vision of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum closer to reality.