LG V K Saxena, CM Kejriwal jointly inaugurate ‘Shaheedi Park’

New Delhi: The redeveloped ‘Shaheedi Park’ in the national capital, which showcases scrap-made sculptures of various freedom fighters, was jointly inaugurated by Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday.

The inauguration ceremony took place amid strains of patriotic songs like ‘Mera Rang de Basanti Chola’. The revamped park has been developed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it will be opened to the public from August 9.

The MCD has claimed that this is “India’s first outdoor museum park”. “Narrating the saga of the fighters who died in the wars of India’s independence and the wars that followed, the Corporation’s Shaheedi Park creates a mesmerising sight with its artefacts and colourful lights.

Let us be here to witness the sacrifices made by the builders of golden India,” the MCD posted on X on Tuesday. The civic body also shared some aerial views of the revamped park. Spread over 4.5 acres, the park will serve as an iconic recreational space narrating the glorious past of India through reliefs, figures and sculptures symbolising notable time spans in India’s history, as also various cultures and heroes, officials said.

The park, originally built about 20 years ago, comprises a wide variety of attractions which showcase the rich historical and cultural heritage of India. It houses beautiful motifs and art installations that commemorate important events, prominent individuals and historical periods that shaped our country, a civic official said. It has been developed in the ITO area, under the ‘waste-to-art’ initiative of the MCD.

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi, Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, Leader of House Mukesh Goel, area councillor Sarika Choudhary and Municipal Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti were also present on the occasion. Sculptures such as old trucks, cars, electric poles, pipes, angle iron and rickshaws have been made out of scrap. The glorious history of India has been depicted through these installations in ‘Shaheedi Park’. “A unique feature of this park is its grand plan, which includes elements of unity, diversity and struggle of our nation. The greenery, ornate gardens and safe passageway structure provide a peaceful and meditative environment to the visitors. Besides, the park also serves as an educational hub, imparting valuable knowledge in our nation’s journey to freedom and progress,” the MCD said in a statement on Monday. Ten artists along with 700 artisans worked together and completed the work on sculptures in six months.