New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated a revamped colonial avenue in the heart of New Delhi as part of a redevelopment plan for a historical precinct.
The Central Vista, which is being redeveloped, is an area stretching roughly three km that was built under British rule to mark the setting up of a new capital in India in the 1920s.
It houses India’s most iconic landmarks including the Parliament House, the presidential palace and the India Gate war memorial, along with some of the largest green spaces in the city of about 20 million.
“On the 75th year of Independence, the country has found a new inspiration,” Modi said in a speech at the India Gate on Thursday. “A symbol of slavery, the Kingsway, or Rajpath, has become history from today.”
Plans to redevelop the Central Vista include building a new parliament house and consolidating all federal ministries in the precinct area, which has drawn objections from conservationists who feel it will obliterate the history and character of the area.
However, project architect Bimal Patel said, in an interview with The Indian Express in 2020, that the redesign does not break away with the past.
“What we are trying to do is to respect history, perhaps even strengthen the original intent by using architecture to strengthen the original diagram,” Patel had said.
His firm HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt Ltd did not immediately respond to a Reuters request.
On Thursday, Modi inaugurated the redeveloped “Rajpath” - a boulevard in the centre of the precinct that is used for ceremonial military parades - now renamed to “Kartavya Path”, or path of duty, along with a statue of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose.
“Kartavya Path will exhibit beautified landscapes, lawns with walkways, added green spaces, refurbished canals, new amenity blocks, improved signage and vending kiosks,” a government statement said.
The government plans to complete the Central Vista redevelopment project by 2024.
In a special gesture, the Prime Minister announced that in the Republic Day function next year, all labourers and workers who have worked on the Central Vista project, would be his special guests.
“During the British era, there was a statue of King George V installed under the canopy situated behind India Gate. This now has been replaced with Netaji’s statue,” he said.
Subhash Chandra Bose, Modi said, was beyond worldly pleasures and never hankered for posts.
“He had vision and capability and was a towering personality. He was pride of India’s heritage. Had India treaded on Bose’s path after Independence, it would have reached great heights,” the Prime Minister lamented.
“Netaji’s ideas and relics too were forgotten after Independence. However his statue at India Gate will now be a symbol of inspiration for the entire country,” he added.
The newly laid Kartavya Path, he said, is a vision of New India, and will inspire people to work for the nation.
The renovated Central Vista corridor consists of re-laid lawns on both sides of Kartavya Path. New pop-up fountains have been installed on water bodies located in the lawns adjacent to India Gate
Apart from this, four under-passes have been constructed on both sides of Kartavya Path which are equipped with public amenities.
Also on the India Gate lawns, pathways have been constructed for convenience of pedestrians along with bridges on water bodies.
Plazas have also been built to allow staging of cultural activities on India Gate lawns.
Minister for Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri and Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy were present with Modi on the dias.
Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J.P. Nadda along with several other cabinet ministers were also present on the occasion.
