Stories
Central Park: Politics, Memories, and the Changing Soul of Connaught Place
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News18•17-10-2026, 13:02
Central Park: Politics, Memories, and the Changing Soul of Connaught Place
- •Connaught Place's Central Park serves as a vital public space for political protests, cultural events, and peaceful retreats amidst Delhi's bustling urban life.
- •Built above the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, the park spans approximately 41,500 square meters and was originally planned by Robert Tor Russell in the 1930s.
- •A giant 90-foot by 60-foot Tricolour installed in 2014 by the Flag Foundation of India and NDMC remains a major center of attraction and patriotism.
- •The park was temporarily closed between 2002 and 2006 for metro construction, returning in a new avatar though losing its iconic massive summer fountain and old-timers like chess players.
- •Urban development and metro construction led to the cutting of numerous old, dense trees that once served as vibrant homes and nesting grounds for parrots and other birds.
Key Questions Answered
The New Delhi Municipal Council closed Central Park to the general public on October 16 and 17, 2026, due to administrative reasons ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's scheduled "Lehra do Tiranga" march.
Central Park was removed between 2002 and 2006 to accommodate the construction of the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. After the underground metro station was completed, the New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation redeveloped the area.
Connaught Place was built in the 1930s, and its designer, Robert Tor Russell, specifically allocated space for an open area right in the middle during the planning of the region.
