After lying in neglect for years, the Coronation Park in Kingsway Camp will finally be restored to its past glory.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) recently signed a contract with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for a holistic restoration project. A significant place in the Capital’s history, the park witnessed the coronation of King George V on December 11, 1911 and the shift of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi.

As a run-up to the centenary year celebrations in 2011, the project aims to give the park a complete facelift, with extensive landscaping and restoration work. The move comes after several years of inaction by DDA, though INTACH had charted the initial plans five years ago.

Now, with the centenary year celebrations and the Commonwealth Games round the corner, the civic body has finally roped in INTACH to begin work on the project.

“The contract has been signed and INTACH is now finalising details of the drawing plans,” DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar said. “We hope to have it ready before the centenary celebrations in December 2011.”

A G K Menon, convener of the Delhi chapter of INTACH, said, “The park has been neglected for decades and lies in a very bad shape — there are overgrown bushes and the statues have worn out. The restoration project will vitalise the park and we hope to make it popular not only among the tourists but also the residents.”

Menon said since most parks are in South Delhi, Coronation Park would be a good option for residents of the area after a facelift.

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