India, Nov. 24 -- The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) has "rejected" the building plans submitted by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for the construction of two proposed Common Central Secretariat blocks on Maulana Azad Road due to serious fire and life safety "shortcomings".

The development comes a month after CPWD sent DFS a request to review the building plans of blocks 8 and 9 of the Secretariat.

The Common Central Secretariat is an extension of the Union government's Central Vista Project, which involves constructing new office buildings to house all 51 government ministries at one place.

According to the letter, the proposal was meant for two blocks - comprising a basement, podium, ground floor and seven upper floors with a ...