A Grand Urban Restoration Project Underway In Delhi

For the longest time, I have wished for a large and leafy public space in Delhi; one where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and be alone with your thoughts in the lap of nature. Imagine something like New York’s Central Park or London’s Regent’s Park, if you will.

Central Park, New York | Photo Credit: Henry Gass/Flickr

While we do have the likes of Lodhi Garden and Deer Park, it would be great to have a space much larger in size that beautifully blends the vast greenery of Delhi with its rich architectural heritage.

If all goes well in a land where plans are often marred by bureaucratic woes, the well-known Sundar Nursery in Delhi’s Nizamuddin could soon be renovated into a sprawling Mughal Garden.

Who’s doing this?
This urban renewal project is an initiative of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture with architect Ratish Nanda as Project Director. Also involved is the Archeological Survey of India, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Central Public Works Department.

What’s the point?
The Humayun’s Tomb – Sundar Nursery – Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti urban renewal project combines the restoration of Delhi’s cultural heritage with several social welfare initiatives in addition to creating a large green space for the people of Delhi to call their own.

Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi | Photo Credit: varunshiv/Flickr

What will it be like?
The plan is to combine Sundar Nursery with the adjacent heritage areas, gardens and the Delhi zoo. The park will be a massive, to say the least, covering about 1200 acres and is expected to contain:

• About 100,000 trees of different species
• Several medieval Islamic monuments including Humayun’s Tomb and other sandstone tombs which are currently being rebuilt
• An ancient fort
• A Buddhist Stupa
• An amphitheater
• Artificial lake
• A restaurant

Possible roadblocks
The Humayun’s Tomb is run by the Archaeological Survey while the Delhi's Central Public Works Department controls Sundar Nursery and the Delhi Zoo controlled by the environment ministry. Getting different agencies involved in the project to cooperate and work together could be the biggest struggle of all for this ambitious project.

What it means for Delhiites
This mega-park will serve as a large, community space with abundant greenery for the people of Delhi and beyond; a haven for walkers, joggers, families and anyone looking to get away from chaos. If all goes as planned, the park could be inaugurated in the next five years.

Till then, let’s keep wishing.