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| Kartavya Path | |
  From top:India Gate on the eastern end of Rajpath ;Rashtrapati Bhavan on the western end of Rajpath | |
 Rajpath, located in New Delhi, India | |
| Former name | Kingsway |
|---|---|
| Location | New Delhi,India |
| Nearest metro station | Central Secretariat metro station |
| Coordinates | 28°36′48″N77°13′06″E / 28.613388°N 77.218397°E /28.613388; 77.218397 |
| Construction | |
| Inauguration | 1911 |
| Other | |
| Designer | Sir Edwin Lutyens |
| Status | Heritage status |
Rajpath (transl. Kingsway[1]), officially namedKartavya Path[2] (transl. Path of Duty[3]), and formerly known asKingsway, is a ceremonialboulevard inNew Delhi,India, that runs fromRashtrapati Bhavan onRaisina Hill through Vijay Chowk andIndia Gate,National War Memorial toNational Stadium, Delhi. The avenue is lined on both sides by huge lawns, canals and rows of trees. Considered to be one of the most important roads in India, it is where the annualRepublic Day parade takes place on 26 January.Janpath (meaning "People's Way") crosses the road. Rajpath runs in east-west direction. Roads fromConnaught Place, the financial centre of Delhi, run into Rajpath from north. It was made during theConstruction of New Delhi.
After climbing Raisina Hill, Rajpath is flanked by the North and South Blocks of theSecretariat Building. Finally it ends at the gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan. At Vijay Chowk it crossesSansad Marg, and theParliament House of India can be seen to the right when coming from the India Gate.
It is also used for the funeral processions of key political leaders of India.
In 1911 the British Imperial Government and the Viceregal administration determined that the capital of theBritish Indian Empire should be moved fromCalcutta toDelhi. Accordingly, construction in that year began on the district of New Delhi, which would serve as the purpose-built administrative capital of the Indian Empire. The British Raj duly turned to SirEdwin Lutyens to construct the new city. Lutyens conceived of a modern imperial city centred around a "ceremonial axis", such axis being the large boulevard now called the Rajpath. Lutyens wanted a panoramic view of the city of Delhi from the viceregal palace. Consequently, the view from Raisina Hill runs unhindered across Rajpath and theIndia Gate, and is obstructed only by theNational Stadium.
Most of the buildings surrounding the Rajpath were designed by Lutyens and the second architect of the project, SirHerbert Baker and contracted by SirSobha Singh.[4] The key function of such buildings in the government of India ensures the road's importance. The first project was done in 1911 underSujan Singh Hadaliwale, the Vijay Chowk, but it then halted due to the onset of theFirst World War.[5]
When built, the road was named King's Way, or Kingsway, in honour of the Emperor of IndiaGeorge V, who had visited Delhi during theDurbar of 1911, and where theEmperor formally proclaimed the decision to move the capital. The name was similar toKingsway inLondon, which had been opened in 1905, and which was also a custom-built arterial road, and which had been named in honour of George V's father,Edward VII (as King of theUnited Kingdom).
Following theIndependence of India the road was given its Hindi name, 'Rajpath', in place of its English designation. This represented a mere translation more than a substantial renaming, since 'Rajpath' in Hindi is broadly analogous in meaning to 'King's Way'.
In September 2022, Rajpath was redeveloped underCentral Vista Redevelopment Project and renamed Kartavya Path.[2]
TheCentral Vista Redevelopment Project started construction on 4 February 2021 and is planned to be finished in 2026 in phases.[7]
On 8 September 2022, the redeveloped Boulevard was inaugurated by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi. A number of new features like planned landscapes, lawns with walkways, green spaces, refurbished canals, amenity blocks, improved signages and vending kiosks, new pedestrian underpasses, improved parking spaces, new exhibition panels, and upgraded night lighting were added.[8]
New sustainability features like solid waste management, storm-water management, recycling unit,rainwater harvesting, water conservation and energy efficient lighting systems were implemented. Foldable seats were added for the annual Republic Day parade.[8]
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