Faced with growing congestion and pollution, the Delhi Development Authority has concentrated its efforts on two areas the development of a master plan for the ninth city of Delhi, and the creation of a continuous system of landscaped areas connecting the city's many historical monuments. The Master Plan of the 9th City of Delhi, drawn in 1961, defines the most recent of the seven ancient and two modern cities of Delhi.
The principal elements of the landscaping are:
Establishment of green buffer zones between the residential colonies and industrial estates;
Creation of landscaped avenues in both industrial and residential areas;
Introduction and preservation of wildlife in the city forests; and
Traverse the outer limits of all but the newest city of Delhi, forming a barrier against the advance of the desert.
The major concerns are:
Rejuvenation of sites surrounding monuments and ruins by the creation of city forests, parts, and woodlands;
Slum clearance;
The development of parks, fruit and flower orchards, rock gardens and such bodies of water as lakes, ponds, moats and canals;
Development of the river-front in the heart of the city; and
Development of recreation areas on selected sites of archaeological interest.
The project consists of two large green belts. The inter-linked system of parks and urban forests is conceived as the lungs of the city, as vital a part of the urban infrastructure as the circulation, water supply, and building systems. The green areas form a continuous network of city landscaping, and highlight individual monuments and ruins, while unifying the diverse architectural styles of Delhi. The horticultural style follows the natural contours of the terrain and avoids formality and stylization. The materials used represent a wide variety of vegetation selected for their visual impact, climatic effect, and historical significance. Lighting systems illuminate pedestrian and vehicular ways and highlight monuments and ruins.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
