Central Vista: Delhi’s iconic landmark gets a facelift

On Thursday, the historic 3 km (1.8 m) long avenue in Delhi, the capital of India, will be reopened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It cost about 6 billion rupees ($75 million; £65 million) to renovate the road, which serves as the site of Republic Day celebrations.

The vice president’s and prime minister’s homes, as well as a new parliament building, are all part of a broader redevelopment scheme.

Around 200 billion rupees is the estimated total project cost.

To modernise the central Delhi neighbourhood that is home to important government buildings, Mr Modi’s administration unveiled the Central Vista Project redevelopment proposal in 2019.

Opposition leaders have serious reservations about the project’s financial and aesthetic aspects.

At the ceremony on Thursday (Path of Duty), Kartavya Path will replace Rajpath (King’s Avenue) as the road’s name at the ceremony.

The road connects several significant sites, including the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president of India’s official house, and the India Gate, a war memorial.

According to the government, the redesigned avenue offers more parking spaces and amenities, including extra restrooms, food stalls, vending kiosks, and specific locations for public performances.

Along the route, the canals and walkways have been renovated and cleaned. According to local media reports, the avenue’s security has also been bolstered with CCTV cameras and security officers.

On Thursday, Mr Modi will also dedicate a 28-foot-tall granite statue of the independence hero Subhas Chandra Bose near India Gate.

The stretch will be made accessible to the general public following the formal event.