“There were requests from certain sections of the society for changing the name of the road as a tribute to the former President. The matter was placed before the council today which unanimously gave a go ahead for the same,” NDMC vice chairman Karan Singh Tanwar said.
He said NDMC is the final authority and no further statutory clearance is required for the renaming.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also a member of the NDMC and who was present during the meeting, lauded the decision.
“Congrats. NDMC just now decided to rename Aurangzeb Road to APJ Abdul Kalam Road,” he tweeted.
Following the former President’s demise last month, there had been a demand from many sections of the society for dedicating a road after him as a token of love and tribute to the “missile man”.
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Maheish Girri had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider renaming Aurangzeb Road after Kalam to correct “wrongs” of history and had said it will be a fitting tribute to the memory of Kalam, widely regarded as the people’s President.
“Happy to share that NDMC has today decided to rename AurangzebRoad as Dr APJ #AbdulKalamRoad. Thank you all for your support in this campaign,” Giri said in a tweet on Friday.
Aurangzeb Road begins at the Taj Mansingh hotel near India Gate and joins Safdarjung Road near the official residence of the prime minister.