A Quick Guide To The New Parliament Of India

It is a historic day for India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building today.

There has been controversy surrounding the event as the Opposition decided to boycott the ceremony demanding that the President should have done the honours.

Here are top points to the big event:

• PM Modi will enter the Lok Sabha chamber at 8.35 following a puja.
• The Parliament reflects the diverse culture of India with carpets from Mirzapur, bamboo flooring from Tripura and stone carvings from Rajasthan.
• The government has also announced a commemorative Rs 75 coin to mark the historic event.
• The new Parliament building built by the Tata Projects Ltd has a grand Constitutional Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage. It also has a lounge for MPs, a library, several committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.
• The building has a built-up area of 64,500 square metres and three main gates, Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar and Karma Dwar - and separate entrances for VIPs, MPs and visitors.
• The material that has been used for the new building has been acquired from across the country. The teakwood has been sourced from Nagpur, while the red and white sandstone was brought from Sarmathura in Rajasthan.
• The new Parliament building can house 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 300 in the Rajya Sabha chamber. For a joint sitting both houses can accommodate 1,280 members in the Lok Sabha chamber.