On September 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the redeveloped Central Vista Avenue. Rajpath, a three-kilometer stretch from Vijay Chowk to India Gate that is often associated with Delhi’s identity and hosts the annual Republic Day parade, will now be known as Kartavya Path (Path of Duty).
Rajpath has a history that dates back more than a century, to the time when Delhi was being developed as the capital. Several changes have occurred along the three-kilometer stretch over the years. Here’s a look at Rajpath’s history and how it came to be.
Kingsway
The colonial rulers decided to relocate the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911. (now Kolkata). Given the location of Delhi, Biritishers believed it would be easier and more convenient to rule India. During the construction of the new capital, Rajpath (then known as Kingsway) was built as a ceremonial boulevard around 1920. The avenue was designed by the architects of the new capital, Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, and featured large lawns, canals, and trees on both sides. It was named Kingsway after Emperor George V, who announced the decision to relocate the capital in 1911. In 1931, New Delhi was inaugurated as the administrative capital of British India. India Gate was unveiled two years later, in 1933.
Rajpath
After India gained independence, Kingsway was renamed Rajpath, and the 3-kilometer stretch has hosted the Republic Day parade every year since. On Central Vista Avenue, some changes were made, such as the planting of new trees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the abolition of colonial mindset symbols in his recent 15th August speech. In the run-up to 2047, the Prime Minister had also emphasised the importance of duties. Both of these factors can be seen as being behind the naming of “Kartavya Path,” according to sources.
“We carried forward colonial mindset after Independence. Rajpath conveys you have come for ‘Raj’ (rule). The PM said that country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and we have to end imperialistic policies, symbols. So, the name of Rajpath has been changed to Kartavya Path,” said Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi.
Kartavya Path
After 20 months of hard work, the Central Vista Avenue will soon be open to the public. This is the first project completed under the Modi government’s ambitious Central Vista redevelopment plan, which began in February 2021. The redevelopment project of the Central Vista — the nation’s power corridor — envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, revamping the three-km Rajpath, a new prime minister’s residence and office, and a new vice-president’s enclave.
The redeveloped stretch, considered the city’s most popular public space, has red granite walkways spanning 1.1 lakh square metres with greenery all around, more than 133 light poles along the Rajpath, 4,087 trees, 114 modern signages, and stepped gardens.
According to an official document, there are over 900 light poles throughout the Central Vista, including those in the gardens and along the Rajpath between the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the India Gate, as part of an effort to make the Central Vista more pedestrian-friendly around the clock. In the entire stretch of 422 red granite benches, eight amenity blocks and four pedestrian underpasses have been constructed.
Along the Rajpath, new red granite walkways spreading 1,10,457 square metre have been created, replacing bajri sand that lined the ground earlier. As many as 987 concrete bollards have been installed on the Rajpath. A total of 1,490 modern-look manholes have replaced the earlier ones.
