The Government of India will rename Delhi's Rajpath – extending from the Netaji statue to the Rashtrapati Bhavan – and the Central Vista lawns as 'Kartavya Path', sources told news agency ANI on Monday, 5 September.
The government had announced last Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely inaugurate the revamped Central Vista Avenue, stretching from the Vijay Chowk to the India Gate, on 8 September.
Along the Rajpath, red granite walkways spreading 1,10,457 square metres have been constructed, replacing the bajri sand that lined the ground earlier, according to an official document. As many as 987 concrete bollards have been installed and a total of 1,490 manhole covers have been replaced.
'Era of Rulers and Subjects Is Over'
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had convened a special meeting for the renaming of Rajpath on 7 September, according to NDTV. The change in name was meant to be a "message to the ruling class that the era of rulers and subjects is over," sources told the publication.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address from the ramparts of Red Fort on 15 August, had expressed the government's desire to abolish symbols related to the colonial mind-set.
In line with this, the Indian Navy changed its ensign last week, during the launch of the country's first home-grown aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
Earlier, the name of the road on which the PM's residence is located, was changed from Race Course Road to Lok Kalyan Marg.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI, and NDTV.)
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