Highlights of the Report
- The Union Government plans to rename Rajpath and Central Vista lawns as ‘Kartavya Path’.
- Central Vista is to be inaugurated on September 8.
Union Government plans to rename Rajpath and Central Vista lawns as ‘Kartavya Path’, as per the sources told ANI on Monday, September 5.
Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proclaimed that he would inaugurate the revamped Central Vista Avenue on September 8. Central Vista Avenue, which stretches from Vijay Chowk to the India Gate.
In a move along the Rajpath, bajri sand that had lined the ground has been replaced by red granite walkways which spread 1,10,457 square metres have been made. Also, replacing 1,490 manhole covers 987 concrete bollards have been constructed.
Proposal for renaming Rajpath as ‘Kartavya Path’
In a special meeting with NDMC called upon on September 7, the proposal seeking for renaming Rajpath as ‘Kartavya Path’ will be placed. “The proposal is yet to come but the meeting is being called to discuss the change in name. All members and officials concerned will participate in the meeting,” said NDMC vice-chairman and former Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Satish Upadhyay.
Kartavya Path Area and the unveiling of Subhash Chandra Bose Statue
As per the two officials of Housing and Urban Affairs, the road and the area from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose statue at India Gate C-Hexagon to the Rashtrapati Bhawan will be called Kartavya Path.
The Netaji Subash Chandra Bose statue will be unveiled on September 8, alongside the inauguration of redeveloped Central Vista Avenue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be unveiling the statue and inaugurating Central Vista, both alongside.
Plans to remove all colonial marks
During Britisher’s rule in India, Rajpath was recognised as Kingsway. The proposed pathway was actually a ceremonial boulevard that was designed as per the Kingsway style of London, hence named Kingsway.
The avenue is the host of major events on the occasion of Republic Day such as the Republic Day Parade and Beating Retreat Ceremony.
According to Swapna Liddle, historian and author of Connaught Place and the maker of New Delhi, Kingsway was renamed Rajpath. It was altered after Independence and the word is the Hindi translation of Kingsway. She mentioned proof of the ‘Rajpath’ name dates back to 1959.
During the Delhi Durbar of 1911, when King George came he proclaimed the capital shift from Calcutta to Delhi. In 1912 eventually, the capital shifted and thus New Delhi came into existence. Eventually, it was inaugurated in 1931. The Central Vista of New Delhi was known as Kingsway. After Independence, it was renamed Rajpath, Liddle asserted.
This year in his speech on Independence Day, PM Modi emphasised scrapping all symbols that display the colonial mindset.
Factors responsible for renaming
For renaming the Rajpath two factors have been consistently responsible. First is the message to be sent to the ruling class that the era of rulers and subjects is no more, says an NDMC member(who does not want his name to be revealed). Second, the PM stresses the significance of duties in the run-up to 2047 which also marks a century of India’s Independence in the latest speech. These two factors have been behind the renaming of Kartavya Path, NDMC officials said.
We are calling a special meeting for discussing altering the name of Central Vista Avenue and Rajpath as Kartavya Path on Wednesday, Upadhyay said. However, NDMC Chairman B S Bhalla did not comment on the matter.
The second NDMC official said that the road commencing from India Gate right up to Central Secretariat was anticipated to be renamed from Rajpath to Kartavya Path.
Renaming the Roads
For a road to be renamed based on the recommendation from the central government, the council can put a proposal on short notice and vote on the matter, the second NDMC official said. Also adding that several roads have been renamed in the past based on the recommendations from the home ministry, ministry of external affairs and cultural ministry.
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