Before elections, MCD to rename roads, parks

With the municipal elections scheduled for next year, the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi has given a green signal to name and rename about 60 roads, parks and traffic junctions in the city.

With the municipal elections scheduled for next year, the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi has given a green signal to name and rename about 60 roads, parks and traffic junctions in the city.

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The opposition, however, termed it a politically motivated move meant to appease the residents of ruling party’s stronghold areas. These parks and roads are being named after freedom fighters and important figures that bear significance to that area.

The proposals for these christenings had been pending for a few years.

In one such christening, the MCD has approved the plan to name the road from Patel Chest to Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar after a former councillor and Sikh leader. The road will now be called ‘Thekedar Surjeet Singh Marg’.

Areas such as Trilokpuri, Ashok Vihar, Vasundhara Enclave, Hari Nagar and Mangolpuri will get new names for parks.

The MCD House, where the decision was announced on Wednesday, however, saw some opposition to renaming of Barshahbullah Chowk, in Ballimaran, to Subh Murti Chowk.

A councillor opposed the move saying it was an old name, given to the place before Independence and hence should be retained because of its historical significance.

The house then decided to postpone the naming until a consensus could be reached.

“Now it’s the councillors duty to put up boards and signages indicating the naming of the current unnamed parks and roads,” said Subhash Arya, leader of the MCD House.

To rename roads, councillors of the wards have to approve the proposals from individuals and organisations. It is then sent to MCD’s road naming and renaming committee, which studies the proposal and checks its feasibility.

Once that is established, the proposal is sent to the standing committee and then to the House for the final green signal.
Some other roads and parks being renamed are: Late Suresh Chand Singhal Marg in Shakarpur, Late Gyan Chand Parkin Sunlight Colony, Sardar Patel Park in Okhla, Banwari Lal Nahajan Park in Nirmi Colony and Shri Durbal Nath Ji Maharaj Park in Wazirpur.