Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday performed the stone-laying ceremony, 'Bhoomi Pujan', for the proposed 'Thal Sena Bhawan' of the Army in Delhi Cantonment which will bring together various pockets of the Army headquarters spread across Delhi under one roof.  At present, nearly eight  offices of the Army are spread all over the national capital.

Observing that there is movement of about 3,000-4,000 vehicles every day from the various Army establishments in the city, Singh said this would be not required once the 'Thal Sena Bhawan' comes and would significantly reduce fuel consumption, expenses and pollution. "The new sena building will ensure they can work under one roof," he stated.  The new Thal Sena Bhawan will be spread over 39 acres and the building will be completed in five years.

Singh also said the newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA) headed by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will also work from here. "This will help in jointness," he added.

The seven-storeyed complex is designed "like a rising sun." Singh said "we have laid the first stone of the new Sena Bhawan. This (stone) will not reach the top, but it is the first stone.

And, it will represent the unsung heroes of the armed forces who have sacrificed their lives for the country."

The proposed Thal Sena Bhawan will bring all Army HQ offices under one roof thereby improving the working efficiency, while reducing the carbon footprint and logistics requirements, Army Chief Gen Manoj Naravane said adding it will also allow more family time for all personnel tenating peace posting at Delhi.

The 'Thal sena bhawan' spread opposite Manekshaw centre in Delhi Cantonment will bring together Army headquarters split in eight pockets across Delhi. Presently, Army Headquarters is split into eight pockets across South Block, Sena Bhawan, Hutments Area, RK Puram, Shankar Vihar and other places, the Army said. The work was sanctioned to make up the existing deficiency of 44% and also to accommodate the Army Headquarters in one place.

It is conceptualized as a multistory green building adopting Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) norms and will house offices, residential area for security personnel and basic amenities.

Approximately 7.5 Lakh square meter of area will be constructed to house the office complex and parking. A total of 6,014 offices will be constructed which will house offices for 1,684 officers both military and civilian and 4,330 sub staff, the Army said.  The proposed work will generate minimum 2 Lakh hours of skilled and unskilled work.  There will be parking for 4,000 cars, sources said.

The Army Chief will continue to sit in South Block in close proximity to the Defence Minister and the present Army HQ 'Sena Bhawan' will continue to exist though some functions would be shifted to the new complex.  The cost of the new project is about Rs 700 crores.

 The present Army Headquarters is situated near South Block on the Raisina Hill.