G20 Summit: MCD puts up 450 banners bearing images of Delhi's heritage sites

NEW DELHI: With the national capital set to welcome heads of state and other international guests who will arrive for the G20 Summit, nearly 450 large banners bearing images of Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Lotus Temple and other iconic heritage sites in Delhi have been put up across the city by the municipal corporation.

The G20 Leaders' Summit will be held in Delhi from September 9-10.

As part of a city beautification drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), new murals have also been painted on public walls depicting the cultural heritage of India, as well as the successful soft-landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.

These large banners also bear the G20 logo, the theme 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', 'One Earth.
One Family. One Future' with a welcome message, and have largely been put up on unipoles which usually carry advertisements.
"We had decided to put up welcome banners in the city for the G20 Summit. As it is a landmark occasion for the country and Delhi is at its epicentre, we chose to showcase our built heritage. So, the banners depict monuments like Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, etc. Nearly 450 such banners have been put up across the city," PTI quoted a senior civic official as saying.
These banners displayed on spaces otherwise meant for advertisements have also enhanced the aesthetic look of the city, he said.
The MCD is divided into 12 zones, including Central Zone, South Zone, City-Sadar Paharganj, Najafgarh Zone, West Zone, Civil Lines Zone and North Shahdara Zone.
"These huge welcome banners have been put up in all parts of the city which come under our administration," he said.
These thematic banners can be seen on roads like DDU Marg, Lodhi Road, Ring Road, areas near New Delhi railway station, and other prominent streets.
Asked if posters have been put up in the trans-Yamuna area too, the official said, "Yes, and also in streets in Najafgarh Zone."
"Entire Delhi is welcoming the G20 guests, and MCD being the civic agency is proud to welcome them too," he added.
Authorities have also decorated the historic Delhi Gate, and areas around various monuments are also being cleaned ahead of the G20 Summit to be hosted at newly built 'Bharat Madapam' at Pragati Maidan on September 9-10.
Besides, colorful artworks depicting Indian cultural heritage have been painted on walls of many public conveniences, and lots of spaces meant for displaying advertisements have been used for G20 thematic posters.
Murals themed on Chandrayaan-3 feat have come up on walls near Vinoba Puri Metro station, and on the walls of a garbage dumpyard in Nizamuddin area.
The colorful mural depicts a spacecraft over the Moon and a lander sitting on the lunar surface.
The G20 logo adorns a corner of the wall, and a makeshift tin-made gate of the dumpyard, has a streaming tagline -- 'India on the Moon'.
Also, artistic sculptures made of scrap material have been installed at eight locations and 3,254 posters have been removed as part of the beautification drive being undertaken by the MCD ahead of the G20 Summit.
These artworks include 'Sangeet Mandali', which depicts a group of artistes playing traditional instruments, installed at a roundabout at Mahipalpur.
"A portion of the abandoned drain adjoining National Science Museum on Bhairon Marg was developed into a beautifully landscaped garden with artwork made of waste products," the MCD said.
The MCD earlier said that 1651.5 MT of debris and construction and demolition waste had also been removed as part of the beautification drive.
The drain from Mathura Road to Ring Road up to the Yamuna river was desilted extensively in the last six months which took the discharge of the entire area abutting Pragati Maidan, officials said.
A stretch of approximately 240 metres on Bhairon Marg opposite gates number 4 and 5 was beautified by stone pitching, and the surrounding area was landscaped with greening and plantation. A selfie point has also been created, they said.
The civic body has undertaken a range of initiatives to ensure the success of the G20 Summit and to showcase the city's commitment to hosting such a significant gathering, the officials said.

Delhi Police assistant commissioner of police Rajender Kalkal has sketched caricatures of 30 world leaders who are scheduled to attend the G20 Summit in the national capital later this week.
Kalkal has made caricatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UK PM Rishi Sunak, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, US President Joe Biden, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, etc.
Kalkal has placed the caricatures at his office on the 14th floor of the Delhi Police headquarters.
"I have a hobby of making cartoons and caricatures since my childhood. I used to make cartoons of my classmates and also of teachers. When I joined the force, I managed to keep my hobby alive.
"Last year, I made a caricature of former UK prime minister Boris Johnson and presented it to him. He liked it and sent an appreciation letter from the United Kingdom," Kalkal said.
He said the caricature of Sunak took the maximum time, while Ramaphosa's caricature was easy. He made all 30 caricatures in 45 days.
Kalkal said he has also made caricatures of former prime ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, spiritual leader Dalai Lama, cartoonist RK Laxman and author Khushwant Singh. Kalkal added that he has also made sketches of his senior officers.

Flag marches, enhanced patrolling and picket checking are among the measures taken by the Delhi Police to maintain law and order in the national capital for the G20 Summit, officials said on Wednesday.
A senior police officer said they are conducting flag marches in their district every day.
"Picket checking has been increased in the area and communication is being established with locals to give them a sense of confidence. Traffic arrangements have been put in place. The areas near Yamuna Khadar are being checked regularly. Mounted morchas have also been pressed into service," the officer said.
Apart from the local police, paramilitary personnel are also conducting flag marches.
The forces continue to remain on high alert to thwart any untoward incident. The police have intensified patrolling and deployed extra pickets at vital installations, the officials said.
Thorough checking is being carried out at the borders. The police have warned of strict action against anyone trying to disrupt law and order in the national capital.
"Checking in the bordering areas has been intensified. Extra pickets are being installed in the borders. Drones are also being used for surveillance. Regular communication is being made with RWA (residents' welfare associations), MWA (market welfare associations) and Aman committee members," another senior officer said.
"Anti-terror measures are being used to sensitise the citizens and they have been asked to inform the police if they find any suspicious activity," the officer said.
Earlier, the Delhi Police prohibited flying sub-conventional aerial platforms such as paragliders, hang gliders and hot air balloons in the national capital from August 29 to September 12 for security reasons.
With PTI inputs