New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will finally open parts of Bharat Vandana Park, including the Mini India zone, in May.Spread over 200 acres, the recreational project is designed in the form of a lotus, with each of its 10 petals representing a distinct theme and activity zone.
The Mini India zone, featuring replicas of 37 monuments from all states and Union territories, has been designed to offer visitors an immersive journey through the country’s architectural and cultural diversity, said an official.The park will also include a congregation zone, Vandana Sarovar with a boating waterbody for leisure, a meditation zone for wellness and reflection, a cultural zone, a Fun Park with animatronics for families, open-air theatres for performances, Pushpkriti Vatika, lake-view restaurants and adventure sports facilities.To connect the zones, sky bridges and water canals are being developed, offering scenic views across the park. “Spread across an expansive area, the park features an 18km network of pedestrian pathways and a dedicated tram corridor,” said the official.One of the key highlights will be an 18-metre-high pylon bridge with a 1.2km skywalk, supported by nine pylons rising 45 metres each, which is pending completion due to approvals from the airport authority.
It will be opened for public in phase II.“There will be a ‘Wall of India’ to showcase glimpses of the nation’s growth chronology, achievements, inventions, discoveries and global existence. Together, these elements are expected to make Bharat Vandana Park one of Delhi’s most unique and aspirational public destinations,” said officials.The foundation stone of the project was laid in Dec 2019 and the park was initially supposed to open in 2023, but has missed several deadlines.
Officials said allotment of kiosks and establishing other public facilities had delayed the opening.DDA vice-chairman N Saravana Kumar said, “We are expecting the place to become one of Delhi’s most iconic public destinations. As DDA continues to shape Dwarka as a modern sub-city with growing momentum and world-class public spaces, this project will stand as a significant urban asset of national importance.”The park is envisioned as a vital green lung for the city, contributing to cleaner air, ecological resilience and an improved quality of life while also setting new benchmarks in sustainable urban development. Fully compliant with GRIHA 3-star norms, the project incorporates a wide range of sustainable and environment-friendly practices, including preservation of waterbodies for groundwater recharge, plantation of approximately 14,000 trees, solar power generation systems, and modern sewage and water treatment facilities.To support high footfall, the park includes 28 food kiosks and premium dining options like the Lake View restaurant and Deck restaurant, along with parking facilities for approximately 2,500 vehicles.A quarter of the park’s area will be covered by waterbodies, including two restored lakes. “To sustain the extensive water features, DDA will supply 90,000 cubic metres of treated water from an STP to initially fill Vandana Sarovar, followed by 1,000 cubic metres daily for its upkeep,” said the official.Six underground storage tanks of 5,000 cubic metres each will support rainwater harvesting. The stored water will help maintain the sarovar, floating island and Mini India zone.While DDA is the project’s nodal agency, National Buildings Construction Corporation is executing it.
