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A makeover for Gandhi Smriti

NEW DELHI: With the New Delhi Municipal Council approving streetscaping of important roads in its area at a meeting here this past week, its makeover time for Tees January Marg, Tees January Lane and adjacent roundabouts in the Capital.

According to a civic body official, roads around Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg would be dolled up in order to give them an identity and signify their importance. The entire project is estimated to cost around Rs.7.63 crore and is scheduled to start in July.

An NDMC official said: “Since Gandhi Smriti is located on Tees January Marg and is visited by tourists from all parts of the country and around the world, we decided to beautify and improve the roads around it.”

The project includes development of Gandhi Smriti’s frontage as a “Memorial Plaza” with all kiosks and vendors being shifted to the roundabout in the lane. The main access to Gandhi Smriti is proposed to be re-worked from Auranzeb Road. In addition, re-location of bus and other parking from Tees January Marg to Tees January Lane and buffering of sidewalks from roads with green strips has also been planned.

Adequate lighting along with suitable street-furniture in pedestrian plaza is also on the anvil.

Other civil works proposed for Tees January Marg include improvement of footpaths on both sides of the roads, up-gradation of two rotaries, walkways and drainage works. In addition, the civic body’s horticulture department would be augmenting plantation and laying irrigation lines on both sides of the roads.

Apart from Tees January Marg, the entire Tees January Lane at the rear of Gandhi Smriti is proposed to be revitalised to house car parking, bus parking and outdoor plaza so that visitors to the Smriti get proper parking facilities.

According to NDMC, the area is presently under-utilised and has access to Gandhi Smriti from the rear and that is being proposed as an alternative entrance from the newly planned parking facilities. The car parking in front of Claridges hotel is proposed to be shifted to Tees January Lane. The roundabout on the lane is planned to be re-designated to house a “pedestrian garden plaza”. This plaza will also house kiosks shifted from the front of Gandhi Smriti and boast newly constructed shops, service centres and a toilet block and taxi stand.

Interestingly the appointment of a landscaping consultant for this project and approval of the conceptual plan was carried out in 2006 itself. However, the project was accorded the civic body’s administrative approval only this past week.

Explaining the cause for delay, the NDMC official said: “Though the project’s conceptual plan was approved in 2006, a detailed preliminary estimate also had to be approved by the empowered committee.”

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