Rajpath acquires a new look

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 11. With the Pakistani President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's historic visit just a couple of days away, Rajpath has already acquired a changed look. For the first time, flags of both India and Pakistan will fly together on small flagmasts atop the antique lamp-posts all along Rajpath.

Lamp posts have been painted anew, saplings planted and tree- guards painted, new look dustbins placed in order, roadsigns given a fresh coat of paint, posters and banners removed - the entire New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) paraphernalia has been pressed into service to make this happen.

The NDMC and the CPWD have deployed an army of workers to spruce up Lutyen's Delhi before the high profile guest arrives. Hectic activity is on along the VIP route, beginning from Shanti Path after crossing the Moti Bagh flyover to Rashtrapati Bhavan. The entire area has been cleaned and bus- stops on the way painted. Cleaning up of VIP routes has been taken up on a warfooting and whitewashing of curbstones, roadsides and landmarks is nearing completion. Besides, patchwork on pavements, painting of railings, road signs, road-markers and pedestrian crossings have been done.

The NDMC is likely to erect three welcome arches - at Shanti Path, Teen Murti and Dupleix Road. Roundabouts, particularly those on Shanti Path and Teen Murti Marg, will be decorated and portraits of the Pakistan President erected.

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