Tricolour to fly at CP’s central park

The popular Central Park at Connaught Place will soon have a new landmark — the national flag on a pedestal styled like a monument. The Flag Foundation of India had sent its proposal of installing the national tricolour to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). Sidhartha Roy and Ritam Halder report.

The popular Central Park at Connaught Place will soon have a new landmark — the national flag on a pedestal styled like a monument.

HT Image

The Flag Foundation of India had sent its proposal of installing the national tricolour to the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

The proposal was sent by NDMC to the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC). As of now, the design of the pedestal is not clear. The DUAC approved the proposal after scrutinising the plan.

According to a Delhi government notification, the Central Park of Connaught Place is listed as a heritage building.

“The proposed structure will not lead to any pollution or traffic mess and that is why it was approved,” said Raj Rewal, DUAC Chairman.

“The flagpole with the national flag will dominate the scene. We have asked NDMC to ensure that the flagpole and pedestal is structurally sound and designed,” he said.

According to Rewal, the project proposes a simple and elegant flagpole.

“It is a proposal by the Jindal group-owned Flag Foundation of India. Permission is subject to approval from all parties concerned such as AAI, heritage committee, and others,” said a senior NDMC official, requesting anonymity. The Central Park, which was created along with Connaught Place in early 1930s, housed trees and a few public art installations before being taken over by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for constructing the Rajiv Chowk Metro station. DMRC rebuilt the park and created waterways, pavements and an amphitheatre.