After renaming Aurangzeb Road to Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Road, the New Delhi Municipal Council has now set its eyes on Aurangzeb Lane, which connects the Abdul Kalam Road with Prithvi Raj Road. This small stretch of lane will also be named after the former President soon. The NDMC is likely to move the proposal to rename it Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Lane in its next meeting.
Interestingly, while the proposal to rename the lane is yet not ready, the over-enthusiast NDMC workers erased the name of the lane from the signages Friday morning.
The NDMC had passed a proposal to change the name of Aurangzeb Road to Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Road on August 28. The Council voted unanimously to replace the Mughal emperor’s name with that of the former President who passed way on July 27.
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On Friday, the NDMC published a public notice making the decision final and changed the signboards on the expensive street to reflect the new name. However, the information boards at roundabouts in the vicinity that pointed towards Aurangzeb Road had not been repainted. Instead of the road’s name, blank spaces could be seen as of Friday evening.
NDMC vice-chairperson Karan Singh Tanwar said he would be submitting a proposal to change the name of Aurangzeb lane, which connects Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Road and Prithviraj Road.
“We will be renaming Aurangzeb Lane in the next meeting. I have spoken to senior officials and the proposal is almost ready,” said Mr. Tanwar.
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According to sources, the inauguration was supposed to be done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Rajnath Singh, which may be delayed as the two are busy with Bihar polls.
Meanwhile, the NDMC will be writing to all residents on the erstwhile Aurangzeb Road to change their nameplates and addresses on official documents and stationery, Mr. Tanwar said.
One of the most expensive areas in the exclusive Lutyens’ Delhi, the road is home to ambassadors, embassies and State houses.
A spokesperson of the Canadian Ambassador, whose residence is on the road, told The Hindu: “The High Commission of Canada will conform to the decision of the NDMC to change the name of Aurangzeb Road, and will take necessary steps to change the address of Canada House as appropriate.”
Google Maps, which had beaten the NDMC by changing the name on Thursday, went back to Aurangzeb Road on Friday. On Thursday, before the new signboards went up, a search for Aurangzeb Road on Google Maps would take you to A.P.J Abdul Kalam Road.