President Kovind inaugurates Heritage Park in Old Delhi

NEW DELHI: President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Charti Lal Goel Heritage Park near Jama Masjid in Old Delhi on Sunday, March 20. The event included cultural performances, classical music and a traditional dance by a group of artists in a Mughal-style baradari (building with 12 doors designed to allow free flow of air).

The officials of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) said that the idea of park was first thought in 2017. The first phase of the park is built at an area of 1.75 acres with a cost of Rs 7.65 crores. The required fund was provided by the ministers of Parliament of several parties and Vijay Goel, former Union Minister.

Goel said that the park is developed as the cultural hub for the walled city, including food of old Delhi, and handicrafts display. It will be the platform for cultural gatherings in the area, he added. The park is located opposite to the Parade Ground parking facility and is named after Charti Lal Goel, former Deputy Mayor of unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi and first Speaker, Delhi Legislative Assembly, officials said.

The park contains Mughal-style Chhatris (umbrellas), stone railings and lamp posts, ornate gates and a sunken open-air theatre. All the construction is done using red sandstone, white marble, Dholpur stone and Delhi quartzite stones. It is in close proximity to Jama Masjid and faces Red Fort. Kapil Aggarwal, Architect, who designed this park, said that the Park is designed in a way that visitors feel it to be part of both sites.

The second phase of the project will include construction of remaining 2.25 acres of area at the cost of Rs 10.03 crores. Rs 4.70 crores for the project have been arranged by the NDMC from its own resources, officials added.