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    Historic makeover: Plan to connect Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi zoo and Purana Qila with walkway

    Synopsis

    The heart of Delhi is all set for a historic makeover with a grand plan to connect major landmarks of the city through an integrated walkway.

    ET Bureau


    NEW DELHI: The heart of Delhi is all set for a historic makeover with a grand plan to connect major landmarks of the city through an integrated walkway.

    The Iconic Park— as the ambitious project is being called — would involve renovation of monuments and integration through a walkway from Humayun’s Tomb through Delhi zoo, Purana Qila, Pragati Maidan, National Science Centre and the Millennium Park.

    The urban development ministry has entrusted the job to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The mega park plan envisages a chain of gardens and monuments which begins in Sunder nursery area from the recently-conserved Sunderwala Burj and leads to Humayun’s Tomb and Delhi zoo. The ministry wants Purana Qila complex to be conserved professionally and then integrated with the Iconic Park project.

    According to officials associated with the project planning, the area would be about 1500 acres. From Purana Qila, the plan is to connect the neighbouring Pragati Maidan complex and National Science Centre. At the back of Purana Qila is Millennium Park, a vast green stretch being maintained by Delhi Development Authority, separated in between by some Railways land.

    “Though the Millennium Park is just behind these monuments, it takes a circuitous route to reach there by road. We are exploring the possibility of connecting the monuments through a walkway or a dedicated pedestrian-friendly path for access to Millennium Park,” said an official. Conservationists have given a thumbs up to the mega park plan.

    Speaking to ET, CEO of Aga Khan Trust for Culture Ratish Nanda said, “The Humayun’s Tomb — Purana Qila — Delhi Zoo area is a contiguous green and as such it is possible to allow unrestricted visitor movement through the area.

    In order to make it a single entity, quite like New York’s Central Park, each of the areas within it require to be landscaped and provided with required facilities in a consistent manner. Together with the landscaping of this area, the conservation of several monuments standing within Purana Qila and Delhi Zoo will also need to be undertaken.” The biggest challenge before the urban development ministry is the multiplicity of agencies.

    Humayun’s Tomb and Purana Qila are maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. Pragati Maidan is owned and maintained by India Trade Promotion Organisation under Ministry of Commerce and Industry. National Science Centre is a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under the Culture Ministry.


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