New Delhi: As a part of the Central Vista redevelopment project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly-christened Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath) at India Gate on Thursday. He has also unveiled a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said a new era has begun in the form of Kartavya Path that will consign the symbol of colonialism 'Kingsway' to history. According to the government, Kartavya Path symbolises a shift from erstwhile Rajpath being an icon of power to Kartavya Path being an example of public ownership and empowerment.

“A new era has begun in the form of Kartvya Path. Symbol of colonialism 'Kingsway' will be history and has been erased forever. I congratulate all the people of the country as we come out from another symbol of colonialism,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister said the Rajpath was for the British Raj, to whom the people of India were slaves. He said Rajpath was also a symbol of slavery and its structure was also a symbol of slavery. “Today its architecture has also changed and its spirit has also changed,” PM added.

He also unveiled a grand 28-feet statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose near India Gate on Thursday evening as Azad Hind Fauj's iconic song ‘Kadam Kadam Badhaye jaa’ played to mark the occasion.

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The jet black granite statue is placed under the Canopy near India Gate. It has been carved from a monolithic block of granite weighing 280 MT. After 26,000 man hours of intense artistic endeavour, the granite monolith was chiselled to produce a statue weighing 65 MT, the Ministry of Culture said in a statement.