NEW DELHI, Sept 5: The new-look Rajpath to be opened to the public next week after a 20-month gap, and the revamped Central Vista lawns in the heart of Delhi will also have a new name in keeping with its new look.
The whole area will be re-named Kartavya Path (Path of Duty) in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to shed names and symbols reminiscent of the British era. The entire road and area from the Netaji statue to the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be known as Kartavya Path — a reminder of the Prime Minister’s emphasis of duty. During his address from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, PM Modi had stressed on the abolition of symbols relating to colonial mindset. In line with it, the Navy changed its ensign last week, during the launch of the country’s first homemade aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Earlier, the name of the road on which PM’s residence is located was changed from Race Course Road to Lok Kalyan Marg.
Sources said the NDMC has convened a special meeting on Wednesday for renaming. Considered the most popular public space in the national capital, the stretch has been redeveloped with red granite walkways spreading around 1.1 lakh square metre with greenery all around.
There are more than 133 light poles along the Rajpath, 4,087 trees, 114 modern signages and stepped gardens. The Central Vista Avenue has been revamped with dedicated vending zones where not only the staple ice-cream, but food from 16 states will be available. There will also be new blocks for public amenities and parking zones for more than 1000 cars. This is the first phase that has been completed under the ambitious redevelopment plan of the Central Vista, which will be the nation’s power corridor. The entire project envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, a new prime minister’s residence and office, and a new vice-president’s enclave.
(Manas Dasgupta)