Flying over with colours

As the Capital gears up to host the G20 Summit in September, which will bring together leaders from the world’s largest economies, extensive beautification work is going on at full pace in different parts of Delhi.

Back in December 2022, India assumed the G20 presidency with the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, meaning “The World is One Family”.

More than 20 agencies of Delhi and Central governments are working to give the host city an aesthetic revamp.

Beautification work on and around the flyovers is of special significance as it is past these stretches that the delegates are set to pass.

As many as six such flyovers have already undergone beautification for the occasion.

The Ranjit Singh Flyover, a 300-metre stretch that starts from Barakhamba Road, has been illuminated with multi and tri-coloured lights and

enhanced with as many as 329.5-meter-high national flags along the parapet walls.

Flyovers and roads connecting the Capital with Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport along with subways and foot-over bridges are also getting a complete makeover.

The Bhikaji Cama Place Flyover has been given a makeover by coating the elevated pillars in beige and orange.

Horticulture and plantation are ongoing, along with replacement of broken tiles, beneath this flyover.

The Andrews Ganj Flyover in South Extension has also been spruced up with greenery and has been given hues of turquoise and painted with vibrant murals depicting the life of daily commuters. The area around the flyover has been left untouched by the authorities.

Around the areas where the beautification drive is taking place, one can spot daily wage vendors, beggars, homeless people, many of whom have returned after being displaced in the beautification drive.

Quite like the Moolchand Colony, where a demolition drive took place in April this year, knocking down night shelters and leaving people homeless.

The walls of Moolchand Flyover have now been given a complete makeover. They are painted with vibrant colours, images of people, and the national bird.

The authorities also plan to build a sports complex under the Lajpat Nagar Flyover, a 5.5-km-long stretch from Moolchand to Ashram, to remove the settlements from under the flyovers.

Back in 2018, the vacant space under the Nehru Place flyover was turned into public spaces, replete with sculptures, internal walkways and vertical greens.

Today, the space has been reclaimed by homeless people.

The Savitri Flyover in Nehru Place has been furnished with captivating murals with bright red paint.

The various departments of Delhi and central government are on a drive to turn the city into a western monopolis.

Kashmere Gate, the place from where more than thousand beggars and homeless people were evicted and houses were demolished in March this year, is now blooming with flashy and picturesque G20 murals and ornamentations.

Beggars have beem removed in the area surrounding the Hanuman Mandir flyover and the stretch has been revamped with various artworks exhibiting the upcoming summit’s logos and mission statements.