NEW DELHI: Kasturba Gandhi Marg is set to undergo a revamp on the lines of the Central Vista project. The NDMC, which will place the proposal at the council meeting this week, plans to similarly cover other roads leading to India Gate.
As part of the project, the pavements at KG Marg will get kerbstones and tiles in red and white while sculptures of freedom fighters will be installed at selected spots. The existing kiosks will be redeveloped on the lines of the sample kiosk near Constitutional Club and given a uniform look, with advertisement panels of government schemes and projects. There will also be plazas, a pedestrian walkway and a cycling track. A green buffer zone will also be developed, for which an irrigation system will be put in place. To beautify trees, highlighters will be installed around them.
“A budget of Rs 12 crore (excluding cost of statues) was approved after finalising the civil, horticulture and electrical work. However, by that time, the National War Memorial opened and work on Central Vista started. To ensure NDMC stretches look similar to the Rajpath area, it was decided to bring some changes in the initial proposal,” NDMC member Kuljeet Singh Chahal said, adding the project’s theme will be ‘New NDMC for New India’.
Chahal said the project will be implemented in two parts. In part A, the stretch from CP to Tolstoy Street intersection, which mostly has office buildings and sees a heavy footfall, will get more plazas as well as provisions to ensure seamless movement for pedestrians and cyclists.
“The service road on the stretch will be removed. Also, no parking will be allowed as there is ample space inside commercial complexes in basements and on ground level. A 3.7m space will be developed as a footpath-cum-cycle track while a 2.5-3m-wide green buffer will be kept on both sides of KG Marg,” said the NDMC member.
“The kerbstones (sandstones, granite, kota stone and white sandstone), tiles and bollards will all be in red. A committee will be formed to finalise the statues. A request has been sent to the National Gallery of Modern Art for suggestions and help,”’ said Chahal.
Part B of the project will cover the stretch from Tolstoy Marg to India Gate. The existing footpath will be retained and the service road will be off-limits for vehicles, acting only as a cycle track with multi-utility zones for seating spaces, lighting, green area and other services.
“As present, the service road is completely under-utilised and used mostly to park vehicles. Strict action will be taken to remove any parked vehicles. The service road will give way to a cycle track and plazas. The plantation along the edges of the cycle track will also be improved and upgraded,” said Chahal.
