![\"K.](\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/theme\/images\/th-online\/1x1_spacer.png\" "\\"K."){kind=spacer}
<\/picture><\/div>\nIn the early half of the 2000s, Freid, a German national, visited the 2-km stretch from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhavan and the lawns around it.<\/p>\n
He has a faint memory of the road, then known as Rajpath, being \u201cbelow par\u201d.<\/p>\n
Two decades later, Freid, who is now in his late 40s, says he is \u201castonished\u201d with the revamp of Kartavya Path.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt is so neat! During my last visit, the maintenance was not so good. It is a pleasant surprise to come here after 20 years and witness this makeover,\u201d said Mr. Freid as he takes a look at the same 2-km stretch, which has been given a makeover and renamed as Kartavya Path.<\/p>\n He walks around Kartavya Path soaking in the atmosphere and narrating tidbits from his previous visit to a young French national who is visiting the revamped Central Vista for the first time.<\/p>\n Also Read |<\/b>Crowds,\u00a0traffic swell at Central Vista<\/a><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n The makeover of this historic site,<\/a> inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has attracted not only first-time visitors.<\/p>\n Many old-time visitors also dropped in over the weekend to find out how different their favourite picnic spot looked now.<\/p>\n One of them was 80-year-old Arihant, a regular visitor to this area for the last five decades. He was sitting on a granite bench to catch his breath.<\/p>\n Despite having suffered a stroke, Arihant was taking a stroll here to catch a glimpse of the space where he had spent his youth relishing \u201cbhel puri<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0chai<\/i>\u201d during the winter.<\/p>\n Also Read<\/b> | Central vista Project | The bid to remake the face of the capital<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The centre of attraction for many is the newly inaugurated 28-foot-tall statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate.<\/p>\n While many families could be seen admiring Netaji\u2019s statue, people could also be seen lining up to watch the dance and musical performances on Sunday evening, when the four-day cultural extravaganza here came to an end.<\/p>\n \nPeople clicking selfies at Central Vista on Sunday. <\/span><\/div>\n Kapil Jain, 55, who has been visiting the iconic venue since his childhood, found the revamp impressive.<\/p>\n His wife, Kaamini, was happy with how many people had come together for the first time after two years of COVID-19 restrictions.<\/p>\n Many like her were reminded of life before the pandemic, as they saw children playing on the lawns with fluorescent toys and their parents capturing their outing on smartphones.<\/p>\n \u201cThe statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is simply marvellous. We live in Karol Bagh and are regular visitors to this area. My father would bring me here when I was a young boy and I have been a regular ever since. The changes here are drastic. They have definitely improved this place,\u201d said Mr. Jain.<\/p>\n For 35-year-old Mahesh Kumar, celebrating his birthday along with his wife and three-year-old daughter here, the only thing missing was \u201csome ice cream\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout my college years, I would regularly come here for a picnic. It is a sweet memory that I wanted to recreate. But I do understand that these are only the first few days after this place has been opened to the public. So, it will take some time for things to be fully operational,\u201d said Mr. Kumar.<\/p>\nPleasant surprise<\/h4>\n
Catching his breath<\/h4>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/th-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/l4h10y\/article65880656.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/INDIA_GATE_CROWD_DELHI_2022_11_09_28.jpg\" "\\"People")
<\/div>\n
\n| Photo Credit:
\nSUSHIL KUMAR VERMA\n<\/p>\nCelebrating birthday<\/h4>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/th-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/6ehqr\/article65880659.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/INDIA_GATE_CROWD_DELHI_2022_11_09_18.jpg\" "\\"People")
<\/div>\n