The construction of the new parliament complex near Delhi's India Gate can go ahead, the Supreme Court said on January 5. This comes in response to petitions that challenged the Central Vista project in terms of permissions & clearances. "We hold that there are no infirmities in clearances given, change in land use," a three-judge bench of the court said in a majority verdict. The go-ahead by the Supreme Court paves the way for the new Parliament building, which is to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 862 crore. Central Vista Project had got mired by controversies over allegations of flouting of environmental norms. However, the Supreme Court's 2:1 verdict in favour of the project clears the decks for the mega-project as the environmental clearances have also been upheld by the apex court. Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar, delivered the verdict. While Justice AM Khanwilkar & Justice Dinesh Maheshwari ruled in favour, Justice Sanjiv Khanna went against the majority.