Kartavya Path inauguration: Stretch to open to public today with drone show attraction

NEW DELHI: The inauguration of Kartavya Path by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place amid much pomp and grandeur on Thursday with the stretch between Rashtrapati Bhawan and India Gate coming alive in its rejuvenated form.
Addressing the event, the PM announced that a drone show on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be organised for the next three days till Sunday and urged people to visit the area and take selfies at the revamped stretch.

Earlier, Modi unveiled a 28 feet tall and six feet wide statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate and paid floral tributes.

The hologram for the statue had been installed by the PM on January 23, marking Netaji’s 125th birthday, under the canopy where a statue of King George V had stood before it was removed in 1968.
Panels highlighting Netaji and his life and achievements have been installed around the canopy which was decked up in striking floral designs.
Architect Bimal Patel gave the Prime Minister a tour of an exhibition which was organised to showcase the trajectory of revamping of the iconic 3km stretch. The PM, who was accompanied by Union minister for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Puri, was shown photos at the exhibition which included black and white images of the stretch which was earlier known as Kingsway before being renamed as Rajpath after India gained independence. At the exhibition, before-and-after images of Kartavya Path had been displayed to capture the essence of the ambitious redevelopment project.
Be it India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan or the sprawling lawns that have now been revamped for the public to access, the Tricolour in the form of lasers and lights kept the spectators enthralled. Bathed in the colours of the Tricolour, fountains on the Central Vista Avenue added to the grandeur of the location which now boasts of new lampposts, red granite walkways, refurbished canals, new amenity blocks, vending kiosks, smart signages, underpasses, parking areas, green spaces and stepped gardens.
As Modi walked down the red carpet, he was welcomed by drumrolls. Adding to the vibrant environment, folk dancers performed before the PM and he watched while being seated with students.
Originally composed by late Shrikrishna Ratanjankar in 1947, a classical performance based on Raag Malkos was performed by Pandit Vyas and his group.
In a bid to give spectators an idea about what went behind revamping of the Central Vista, audio-visuals were screened.
The event was attended by dignitaries, including ministers and diplomats, and celebrities like actress Kangana Ranaut and singer Mohit Chauhan.