Editing Rajpath

{{short description|Boulevard in New Delhi stretching from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan}}
{{for|the street in Bhubaneswar|Rajpath, Bhubaneswar}}
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{{More citations needed|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox street
| name                   = Rajpath
| alternate_name         = Kartavya Path
| image            = {{Multiple image
| border           = infobox
| total_width      = 300
| image_style      = border:1;
| direction        = vertical
| perrow           = 2
| image1           = India Gate from Rajpath.jpg
| image2           = Rashtrapati Bhavan gate close up.jpg
}}
| caption                 = From top: [[India Gate]] on the eastern end of Rajpath ; [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] on the western end of Rajpath
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| image_map               = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-width=300|frame-height=170|frame-align=center|zoom=9|type=point|title=Rajpath|marker=street|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080}}

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| map_caption             = Rajpath, located in New Delhi, India
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| other_name              = 
| former_names            = Kingsway
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| location                = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
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| postal_code             = 
| metro                   = [[Central Secretariat metro station]]
| coordinates             = {{Coord|28.613388|N|77.218397|E|region:IN-DL_type:landmark_scale:50|display=title}}
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| inauguration_date       = 1911
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| designer                = [[Sir Edwin Lutyens]]
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| status                  = Heritage status
| website                 = 
}}

'''Rajpath''', officially named '''Kartavya Path'''<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Khan |first=Muneef |date=7 September 2022 |title=NDMC passes resolution to rename Rajpath to Kartavya Path |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/ndmc-passes-resolution-to-rename-rajpath-to-kartavya-path/article65861151.ece |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X |access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> ({{Translation|Path of Duty}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Rajpath to make way for Kartavya Path: How India is stepping away from its colonial past |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/rajpath-to-make-way-for-kartavya-path-how-india-is-stepping-away-from-its-colonial-past-11190881.html |work=Firstpost |date=September 6, 2022 |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>), and formerly known as '''Kingsway''', is a ceremonial [[boulevard]] in [[New Delhi]], [[India]], that runs from [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] on [[Raisina Hill]] through Vijay Chowk and [[India Gate]], [[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]] to [[National 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 annual [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day parade]] takes place on 26 January. [[Janpath]] (meaning "People's Way") crosses the road. Rajpath runs in east-west direction. Roads from [[Connaught Place, New Delhi|Connaught Place]], the financial centre of Delhi, run into Rajpath from north. It was made during the [[Construction of New Delhi]].

After climbing Raisina Hill, Rajpath is flanked by the North and South Blocks of the [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Secretariat Building]]. Finally it ends at the gates of Rashtrapati Bhavan. At Vijay Chowk it crosses [[Sansad Marg]], and the [[Parliament of India|Parliament 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.

==Name and history==
In 1911 the British Imperial Government and the Viceregal administration determined that the capital of the [[British Indian Empire]] should be moved from [[Calcutta]] to [[Delhi]].  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 Sir [[Edwin 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 the [[India Gate]], and is obstructed only by the [[Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium|National Stadium]].

Most of the buildings surrounding the Rajpath were designed by Lutyens and the second architect of the project, Sir [[Herbert Baker]] and contracted by Sir [[Sobha Singh (builder)|Sobha Singh]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Dayal |first=Mala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVJwAjsOBz0C&q=delhi+lectures+khushwant |title=Celebrating Delhi |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-670-08482-1 |language=en}}</ref> The key function of such buildings in the government of India ensures the road's importance. The first project was done in 1911 under [[Sujan Singh Hadaliwale]], the Vijay Chowk, but it then halted due to the onset of the [[World War I|First World War]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dayal |first=Mala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVJwAjsOBz0C&dq=%22sujan+singh%22+%22lodge%22&pg=PA9 |title=Celebrating Delhi |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-670-08482-1 |language=en}}</ref>

===Name===

When built, the road was named King's Way, or Kingsway, in honour of the Emperor of India [[George V]], who had visited Delhi during the [[Delhi Durbar|Durbar]] of 1911, and where the [[Emperor of India|Emperor]] formally proclaimed the decision to move the capital. The name was similar to [[Kingsway, London|Kingsway]] in [[London]], 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 the [[United Kingdom]]).

Following the [[Independence 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 under [[Central Vista Redevelopment Project]] and renamed Kartavya Path.<ref name=":1" />

==Landmarks==
*The [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]], the official residence of the President of India. It was the [[Viceroy#India|viceroy]]'s residence before Indian independence.
*North Block and South Block, also called the [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Secretariat Building]]. North Block houses the offices of Finance and Home ministries. South Block hosts External affairs and Defense ministries. Other important offices like some of the Prime Ministers Offices are also in the Secretariat Buildings.
*Vijay Chowk is a spacious plaza and the site of [[Beating the Retreat]] ceremony, which takes place on 29 January each year, which marks the end of [[Republic Day]] celebrations, in which Military Bands, Pipes and Drums Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army Regiments besides bands of the Navy and Air Force take part, with the [[President of India]] as the Chief Guest.<ref name="pib">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=69432|title=Curtain Raiser – Beating Retreat Ceremony 2011|date=28 January 2011|publisher=Ministry of Defence}}</ref>
*[[India Gate]] is India's war memorial arch in honour of those who died in the [[First World War]] and the [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]]. It is also India's memorial of the unknown soldier.
*[[National War Memorial (India)|National War Memorial]], built to honour and remember soldiers of the Indian military who fought in armed conflicts of independent India. Since Independence, more than 25,000 soldiers of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] have been killed in various conflicts, humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

==Redevelopment==
{{main|Central Vista Redevelopment Project}}
The [[Central Vista Redevelopment Project]] started construction on 4 February 2021 and is planned to be finished in 2026 in phases.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajpath-redevelopment-project-begins/article33750092.ece|title = Rajpath redevelopment project begins|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 4 February 2021}}</ref>

On 8 September 2022, the redeveloped  Boulevard was inaugurated by Prime Minister [[Narendra 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=6 September 2022 |title=Kingsway, Rajpath, Kartavya Path: from 'right to rule' to 'duty to serve' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/rajpath-kartavya-path-delhi-central-vista-kingsway-history-explained-8133876/ |access-date=8 September 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> 
 
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.<ref name=":0" />

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" heights="120" perrow="5">
File:Vijay Chowk at Rajpath, with Secretariat Buildings in the background, New Delhi.jpg|Vijay Chowk at Rajpath, with [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Secretariat Building]] in the background, New Delhi, the venue of the Beat Retreat ceremony
File:North and South block at Rajpath.jpg|North and South Block of the [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Secretariat Building]] illuminated
File:Parliament House, Delhi.jpg|[[Old Parliament House, New Delhi|Old Parliament House]] as seen from the Rajpath
File:North Block from Rajpath.JPG|North Block of the [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Secretariat Building]] seen from Rajpath
File:South Block side view.jpg|South Block of the [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Secretariat Building]] seen from Rajpath
File:Rashtrapati Bhavan (seen from Rajpath) 01.jpg|[[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] seen from Rajpath
File:Delhi, India, Rajpath.jpg|Panoramic view of Rajpath
File:Indian naval contingent marching on Rajpath.jpg|Indian Naval contingent marching on the Rajpath during [[Delhi Republic Day parade]]
File:The Band performing at the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony, at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi on January 29, 2018 (5).jpg|A band performance at India's [[Beating Retreat#India|Beat Retreat ceremony]] at [[Vijay Chowk]] in 2018.
File:The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Anil Baijal, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Shri Jayant Sinha and other dignitaries performing Yoga, on the occasion of the 4th International Day of Yoga -2018, at Rajpath.JPG|[[International Day of Yoga]] on 21 June 2018
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jan/29pic2.htm Image of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Secretariat buildings lit up for the Beating the Retreat at Vijay Chowk] – [[Rediff]]
{{commons category|Kartavya Path}}
{{Delhi}}

[[Category:New Delhi]]
[[Category:Roads in Delhi]]
[[Category:Boulevards]]
[[Category:National squares]]
[[Category:Works of Edwin Lutyens in India]]