In news– The Rajpath and Central Vista Lawns in New Delhi will now be known as “Kartavya Path” after the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), in a special council meeting, has approved a proposal to rename the iconic stretch.
About Kartavya Path-
- The entire stretch and the area from the Netaji statue under the Grand Canopy to the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be known as Kartavya Path.
- As per the NDMC resolution, Kartavya Path includes the erstwhile Rajpath and Central Vista lawns.
- It will exhibit landscapes, lawns with walkways, added green spaces, refurbished canals, amenity blocks, improved signages and vending kiosks.
- New pedestrian underpasses, improved parking spaces, new exhibition panels, and upgraded night lighting are some other features that will enhance the public experience.
- It also includes a number of sustainability features like solid waste management, storm-water management, recycling of used water, rainwater harvesting, water conservation and energy efficient lighting systems, among others.
- The revamped and expanded lawns on both sides of the erstwhile Rajpath are part of the larger Central Vista project, where a new triangular Parliament building, along with the Central Secretariat and several other government offices, are being rebuilt.
- It symbolises a shift from erstwhile Rajpath being an icon of power to Kartavya Path being an example of public ownership and empowerment.
The name Kingsway to Rajpath-
- Called Kingsway during British rule, the three-km stretch was built as a ceremonial boulevard by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the architects of New Delhi, more than a hundred years ago.
- The capital of the Raj moved to New Delhi from Calcutta in 1911, and construction continued for several years thereafter.
- Lutyens conceptualised the modern imperial city centred around a “ceremonial axis”, which was named Kingsway in honour of the then Emperor of India, George V, who visited Delhi during the Durbar of 1911, where he formally proclaimed the decision to move the capital.
- The nomenclature followed that of the Kingsway in London, an arterial road built in 1905, which was named in honour of King Edward VII, the father of George V.
- Along with Kingsway, the Queens Way was renamed as Janpath.
- Following Independence, the road was given its Hindi name, Rajpath, on which the Republic Day parades took place over the decades that followed.
- While the length of the stretch is 1.8km, the width is 12 metres and granite stone footpath width on both sides is 4.2m.
The Central Vista Redevelopment Project-
- The construction of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project began in February 2021, with the new Parliament building and redevelopment of the Central Vista Avenue in the first phase.
- The aim is to build an iconic avenue that truly befits the New India, the government has said about the Rs 608 crore Central Vista Avenue project.
- During his address from the Red Fort on August 15, Prime Minister of India had stressed on the abolition of symbols of colonialism.
- The new name and look of Rajpath, as well as the installation of the 28-foot statue of Netaji under the Grand Canopy under which a statue of George V once stood, are meant to represent that spirit of the proud new India.
- The statue of Bose will be installed in the same place where a hologram statue was unveiled by the PM on Parakram Diwas January 23 2022.
- Crafted by Arun Yogiraj, the statue has been carved from a monolithic granite stone and weighs 65 tonnes.
Further reading: https://journalsofindia.com/central-vista-avenue/
Source: The Indian Express
