The revamping of Nelson Mandela Marg was part of Delhi Government’s streetscaping projects that sought to uplift the city’s major thoroughfares to international standards. BMA undertook this assignment in partnership with Design Forum International, with a view of transforming such oft-neglected areas into meaningful urban areas of people engagement. The initial phase, stretching a few kilometres long, was treated as a sort of prototype. The median of the road was identified as an important area for refurbishment. Babul trees that are native to the region and flourished in the narrow ribbon between the two sides of the thoroughfare were retained and paired with flowering plants, lawns and large palms.

The latter were strategically illuminated to add a deeper dimension to the beautification and add drama to the continuous vista. A similar plantation along the sides of the roads softened their edges, while new sidewalks and bicycle tracks made walking and commuting by bicycles pleasant and safe. A bridge that formed a part of this stretch was designed and redecorated.

The second phase proposed bookending the rejuvenated streetscape with imposing statues of Mahatma Gandhi at one end and Nelson Mandela at the other. It also sought to transform the portion of the verge abutting a shopping district into a plaza, complete with lawns, tree cover and streetlights.