New Delhi's 104th b'day: Coronation Park plunges into darkness

Wrapped in fog in day time and wearing a sombre look, Coronation Park, the birthplace of New Delhi was plunged into darkness by sundown today, the only irony being the day coinciding with the capital city's 104th anniversary.
The historic ground had hosted one of the grandest imperial Durbar ever in 1911, where King George V and Queen Mary were coronated as the Emperor and Empress of India and the new capital was officially shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.
Local residents oblivious to the importance of the place, let alone the day, wandered about in the park, while graffiti scrawled up on the iconic Coronation Pillar, that marks the site of the Durbar, only added to the overwhelming irony.

"Is December 12 a historic day for Delhi. I don't know. I was born in the vicinity and have seen this place from my childhood days. We used to play cricket here, and now come here on and off. But, I don't know what this place is, whose those statues are of and December 12's importance," said 17-year-old Aditya Jha, when enquired about the place.
The historic land falling under the DDA, was taken up by Sheila Dikshit regime to be redeveloped as a 'Coronation Park', and work was to be completed by 2011, to coincide with New Delhi's 100th anniversary.

But, DDA has been missing several deadlines since then and today, it added just another to that list.

As per the plans, the whole area has been redesigned keeping the Coronation Pillar as nodal point. A majestic statue of King George V, which once adorned the canopy opposite the India Gate stands amid four other statues (of Indian viceroys) placed at the four corners around the obelisk.
Masons can be still seen working on several sections, and heaps of earth being piled up at the second entrance gate, while the ticket counter at the main gate is far from ready.

"The whole area plunges into darkness after sunset, as the new lamps, barring a few, have malfunctioned. We have lodged a complaint with the authorities, but they have not been restored yet," a security guard of the park said.
"But, more than the unfinished work, it is the public nuisance caused by young couples at the park which is causing discomfort to local people, especially elders, who now prefer to avoid the place," he said.
All statues except that of Lord Chelsford dissolved into darkness by evening. King George's iconic statue adorned with his Durbar robe too disappeared after the sunset. Lord Chelmsford's statue stood there lit up by two bright spotlights, in abject contrast to the darkness around it.

INTACH Delhi Convener A G K Menon said, "It was a sad commentary that DDA can't look after its own asset."
"The bureaucratic inertia that has delayed the project so far, and it continued this year too. The funds to carry forward the project has stopped, the willingness has stopped...I am sad about this whole state of affairs now," Menon told PTI.
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage has been chosen by the DDA as a consultant for the ambitious project, but continuous delay has dampened its spirit.