In a landmark transition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to move the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) from its historic home in South Block to the newly constructed Seva Teerth complex in New Delhi. Government sources indicate the shift is likely to occur after January 14, 2026, which coincides with the Makar Sankranti festival.
A New Era for India's Executive Power Centre
The move signifies a major step in the Central Vista redevelopment project. The PMO has been operating from South Block since India's independence, with the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, having used the same premises. The new Executive Enclave or Seva Teerth is located on Dara Shikoh Road (formerly Dalhousie Road) in the heart of the capital.
The complex houses three key bodies of the executive in separate buildings: the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS). While the Cabinet Secretariat already moved into its new office in September 2025, the NSCS is expected to shift shortly, paving the way for the Prime Minister's relocation.
Construction Details and Project Secrecy
The Seva Teerth complex was built by engineering giant Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The contract, awarded in November 2022, was secured by L&T at 10.44% below the estimated cost, amounting to Rs. 1189 crore. The firm was mandated to complete construction within 24 months.
Details about the project have been closely guarded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the CPWD, a decision attributed by sources to significant security considerations. The interior of the new PMO building is said to feature modern workspaces similar to the recently completed Kartavya Bhavan secretariat buildings. However, the Prime Minister's own office and rooms for high-level ceremonial visits will have a grander aesthetic.
Future of the Historic South Block
The vacating of South Block will initiate its next chapter. As part of the Central Vista plan, the CPWD is set to convert the iconic South Block and North Block into a national museum. This will, for the first time, open these red-sandstone buildings on Raisina Hill to the public. Restoration work on North Block began last year after its occupants shifted, and a tender for South Block's restoration has already been floated.
Additionally, a new official residence for the Prime Minister, designated as Executive Enclave Part 2, is under construction nearby. The broader Central Vista project, announced in 2019, has already delivered the new Parliament building (2023), the Vice-President's Enclave (2024), and the first set of Common Central Secretariat buildings named Kartavya Bhavan (2025).
