New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council has completed the redevelopment of the roundabout opposite RML Hospital. The facelift is part of its effort in beautifying roundabouts in Lutyens Delhi by installing waterbodies, sculptures and lighting.
LG VK Saxena unveiled the site on Tuesday morning. The roundabout, with a diameter of 58 metres, has transformed into a lush green space with landscaped pathways in sandstone.
To enhance functionality, low toe walls were made to border the walkways, doubling as convenient seating areas. To illuminate the area, warm lights were installed. The highlight of the place is a five-elephant family sculpture installed in the heart of the roundabout and encircled by water channels and fountains. The intersection connects to Baba Khadak Singh Marg, Talkatora Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, and Sheikh Mujibur Rehman Marg. Work on this project had started early this year. Saxena said NDMC had placed 35 sculptures at 20 locations. The sculptures, in prominent locations, featured the Buddha, marble lions, a polo horse, horse family, chariot and many others.
"The elephant family installed at the RML Hospital roundabout is another addition to the effort to beautify the city. Due to this work, the people passing through the place not only get a visually pleasing experience but also get a feeling of a clean and green environment. It will also help in combating pollution. The colourful lights with fountains will make these intersections even more beautiful at night," he said.
The salient features of the project include an elephant family with five members (two big and three small elephants) at the centre, an octagonal water body around the sculpture with 48 fountain nozzles, 80 LED lights, 7.5 horsepower motors and plants around the water body.
Prior to this, with assistance from the central ministry of culture, NDMC installed sculptures at roundabouts or intersections on Africa Avenue Road, Taj Mansingh, Mandi House and several others three months ago.
In June, a stone-carved sculpture was also installed at the junction of Sardar Patel Marg and Simon Bolivar Marg.