New Delhi, Sep 08,2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurate the newly-christened ‘Kartavya Path’ – a stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate that will have red granite walkways with greenery all around, refurbished canals, state-wise food stalls, new amenity blocks and vending kiosks.
The symbol of colonialism ‘Kingsway’ is a history and has been erased forever, PM Modi said at the event. “A new era has begun in the form of ‘Kartvyapath’. I congratulate all the people of the country as we come out from another symbol of colonialism,” he added.
The PM stated that Rajpath was for the British for whom the people of India were slaves. “It was a symbol of colonialism. Now, its architecture has changed, and its spirit has also changed,” he added. According to the government, it symbolises a shift from erstwhile Rajpath being an icon of power to Kartavya Path being an example of public ownership and empowerment. Before inaugurating Kartavya Path, he unveiled a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate. It has been carved from a monolithic block of granite weighing 280 MT.
These steps are in line with the Prime Minister’s second ‘Panch Pran’ for New India in Amrit Kaal: ‘remove any trace of colonial mindset’, the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The entire stretch has been revamped under the Modi government’s ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project.
