Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the revamped Central Vista Avenue in September. Central Vista Avenue is a part of the Union government’s ambitious Central Vista Redevelopment project. People familiar with the subject said the event will likely be held between September 8 and 10.
Initially, planned to be finished by the end of 2021, the Central Vista Avenue’s work is now complete and Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri checked the progress during a visit.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) began work on the Avenue in February 2021. “The work is over. This will be the first of the four projects (that are under construction) to be completed as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project. The PM is likely to inaugurate the redeveloped Avenue. The event planning is being done at present,” said the official.
The Avenue is the 1.8-km stretch of the Rajpath and the lawns flanking it, between India Gate and Vijay Chowk. The work has involved the construction of four pedestrian underpasses, eight amenity blocks, relaying of Rajpath, construction of pathways along it and in the lawns, improving canals and buildings 16 permanent bridges over it, and the construction of underground utility ducts for electric and other cables.
According to an official of CPWD, the Avenue lawns have been renovated and pathways along the Rajpath and across the lawns have been paved with granite in red colour. The heritage light poles along Rajpath have been redone, and new light poles close to the lawns and canals have been installed.
After the Avenue, the segment scheduled for completion is the new Parliament building where the winter session of the Parliament is likely to be held.
The work for the executive enclave, which will house Prime Minister’s Office, India House, Cabinet Secretariat, and National Security Council Secretariat, is yet to be granted. Last month, Hyderabad- based DEC Infrastructure and Projects appeared as the lowest bidder for the project.
