After hiccups, nod for 3D show at India Gate

NEW DELHI: The capital will soon have iconic images of our cultural heritage reflected at India Gate. According to reliable sources, Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) has cleared the tourism ministry's 3D projection mapping project at the monument after initial reservations. While the minutes of the meeting are not out yet, sources confirmed that the commission reconsidered the project at a later meeting and has given the go-ahead.
The project envisions 3D mapping of monuments that depict the country's vast heritage at India Gate late in the evening. Various ideas are being explored and the fine-tuning remains. "Images of one monument from each state would be projected onto India Gate for one minute to five minutes. There could be one image for each day or a tribute paid to all the 29 states by picking one every day. The details, timings and other technicalities are being worked out," said an official. The project will be implemented by the central public works department (CPWD) at the behest of the ministry.
A detailed presentation was sent to DUAC earlier this year. "The projections will be without an audio system. Fifty clips of one minute each compose the show content. The clips will be shown at different intervals in the evening depending on the approval by the ministry, which will also clear the script. Local and traffic cops will supervise security and no permanent/semi-permanent structure will come up," said a description of the project sent to DUAC. The arts body had raised concerns on the project's effect on pedestrian movement around India Gate as well as the sensitivity of traffic on peripheral roads.
The ministry, however, ruled out any alternative site in Delhi, saying the 3D project would revitalize the whole India Gate area and afford free entertainment for visitors and passersby. "All precautions will be taken. We are looking at extending the time for each image to not distract those driving by," said a senior official.