NEW DELHI: North Delhi Municipal Corporation is giving another reason to tourists to visit the Walled City in the near future by intensifying work on a heritage park located next to the Parade Ground parking lot.
The 1.75-acre plot, which will be divided into two parts, faces two historical monuments — Red Fort on one side and Jama Masjid on the other.
While the first rectangular part measuring approximately 5,000 sq metres will have an entrance plaza, sunken sitting area, baradari, landscaped courts, open air amphitheatre, fountain, stage and washroom, the second triangular section measuring about 2,000 sqm will have a huge lawn covered with interlocking tiles.
The civic body aims to conduct light and sound shows here, if all goes according to the plan.
Former north corporation mayor and councillor from Sadar Bazar Jai Prakash said, “The project costing Rs 4.7 crore was conceived two years ago.
Funds were allocated through MPLAD, but due to the pandemic and other reasons it could not be carried out.
Most of the funds either lapsed or could not be released.
However, we still have Rs 50 lakh left from the MPLAD fund.
The remaining amount is being arranged by the civic body.” On Wednesday, former Union minister Vijay Goel and commissioner Sanjay Goel visited the site to take stock of the situation.” The site is currently being levelled and the project is expected to be complete by December.
“We started work immediately after getting permission from Delhi Disaster Management Authority.
The engineering department is currently levelling the plot.
The park will have white sandstone, red sandstone, marble, Dholpur stone, etc so that it looks similar to the two historical monuments,” said Prakash.
“The park will have a 400m boundary wall constructed with RCC pillars and bricks.
The finishing will be done with Mehrab made of red stone, decorative stone jalis, etc,” added the former mayor.
A corporation official said that permission had been obtained from all agencies concerned for the project.
“While visiting Jama Masjid and Red Fort, visitors can come and relax here.
Apart from developing the lawn, we will be planting saplings of indigenous trees, like amaltas, peepal and banyan.
To make the place look elegant at night, we plan to install artistic lampposts in the corridors.
For giving easy access, pavements will be constructed around the park,” added the official.