Rajpath and Central Vista lawns to be renamed as 'Kartavya Path'

The government has decided to rename Delhi's Rajpath and Central Vista lawns stretching from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate as 'Kartavya Path'. Rajpath was known as Kingsway during the British Rule.

Kartavya Path would includes the entire avenue and area from the Netaji Statue to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Media reports said that the New Delhi Municipal Council is likely to endorse government's decision this week.


"The entire road and area from the Netaji statue at India Gate to the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be known as Kartavyapath," reports said.

The move is in line with PM Narendra Modi's vision of shedding all traces of India's colonial past. In his Independence Day speech this year, the prime minister stressed the abolition of symbols that reflect the colonial mindset.

Last week , PM Modi unveiled the new ensign of the Indian Navy with the aim to do away with the colonial legacy .

On Thursday, PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the revamped Rajpath and Central Vista lawns.

The redevelopment project of the Central Vista -- the power corridor of the country -- envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common Central Secretariat and the revamping of the three-km-long Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate and new residences for the prime minister and the vice president.

The redevelopment project of the Central Vista - the nation's power corridor - also envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, a new residence of the prime minister, a prime minister's office, and a new vice-president's enclave.

The revamped Central Vista Avenue along the Rajpath will have state-wise food stalls, red granite walkways with greenery all around, vending zones, parking lots and round-the-clock security. But people would miss only one thing -- food will not be allowed on the lawns from India Gate to Man Singh Road.

The stretch will open for the public after 20 months. On the day of the inauguration, visitors will not be allowed on the stretch from the India Gate to Man Singh Road, but they can use the remaining part. From September 9, the entire stretch will be thrown open to the public.

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), an executing agency of the project, has set up five vending zones where 40 vendors each will be allowed and according to the plan, they will not be allowed to sell their items to visitors in the garden area.

A senior official said there would be two blocks near the India Gate and each block has eight shops, adding that some states have shown their interest to set up their food stalls.

"Ice cream carts will only be allowed in the vending zones. Although we have not taken any decision, we will ensure that these ice cream trolleys are not allowed along roads," the official said.

Earlier, the government renamed the the road on which PM’s residence is located from Race Course to Lok Kalyan Marg.

In 2015, Aurangzeb Road was renamed A P J Abdul Kalam Road. In 2017, Dalhousie Road was renamed Dara Shikoh Road. Also, Teen Murti Teen Murti Chowk was changed to Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in 2018. There have been several proposals to rename Akbar Road, but nothing has been done yet.

(With inputs from PTI)