NDMC Plans New Sculpture Park At Delhi’s Nehru Park, Begins Site Survey

Early winter mornings at Delhi’s Nehru Park often bring quiet footfalls, open lawns and the sound of rustling trees. On Tuesday (Dec 9), the space also hosted the first steps toward a project that aims to change how visitors experience art in public areas. New Delhi Municipal Council vice chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal visited the park to review potential locations for a proposed sculpture park, an initiative the civic body plans to develop in the coming months.

Chahal, accompanied by NDMC Chairman Keshav Chandra and artists Advait Gadnayak and Tutu Patnaik, surveyed the Srijan Art Gallery area inside Nehru Park. The visit marked the beginning of the council’s plan to introduce a dedicated outdoor space for large-scale sculptures created by artists from across India.

Speaking after the visit, Chahal said NDMC will soon form a committee to identify and finalise the specific site where the sculpture park will be located. Once the committee begins work, the council plans to organise a month-long symposium that will bring together around fifteen sculptors from various parts of the country. The artists being considered include several recipients of Padma Awards and National Awards.

Live Sculpture Making Planned At Nehru Park

According to Chahal, the proposed symposium will enable participating artists to create sculptures on-site. Each artwork is expected to be between ten and fifteen feet in height. The aim is to allow visitors to observe the sculpting process in real time, providing insight into the techniques, materials, and scale of work involved in outdoor installations.

At the end of the symposium, the completed sculptures will be placed in the new sculpture park within Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri. The NDMC expects the installation to enhance public access to large artworks and to create a space where residents and tourists can engage with contemporary sculpture throughout the year.

The initiative is part of NDMC’s larger effort to expand cultural activities in central Delhi. In May of this year, the council established a dedicated Art and Culture Department. It was allocated a budget of forty crore rupees, which accounts for one per cent of NDMC’s total annual budget. The department is responsible for planning arts-related programs and supporting projects that promote cultural expression in public spaces.

NDMC’s Cultural Push And New Forums

Alongside the Art and Culture Department, NDMC has also created an Urban Arts and Culture Forum. Chahal said the forum will contribute to shaping cultural initiatives in NDMC areas and promote collaboration between artists, institutions, and the civic administration. The forum’s role will include curating events, facilitating workshops, and coordinating with artists for installations and performances across key public locations.

The sculpture park project is expected to draw support from both the department and the new forum. Chahal said the purpose of these bodies is to encourage activities that highlight India’s artistic traditions and contemporary practices. According to NDMC officials, public parks provide an accessible platform for such engagement.

As part of the preparatory work, NDMC officials and invited artists spent time studying the available space at Nehru Park to determine where sculptures of the proposed height could be accommodated without affecting the park’s landscape or visitor pathways. The committee to be formed will assess the options and submit its recommendations before NDMC begins construction and installation.

Although a timeline for the park’s completion has not yet been announced, NDMC expects work to move forward after the symposium concludes. The project also aligns with broader trends in urban planning that encourage the integration of cultural and artistic elements into public infrastructure.

For park visitors, the plan offers the prospect of viewing significant artworks outside conventional galleries. For artists, it presents an opportunity to work in an open environment and create pieces that will become part of a permanent public collection.

As discussions progress, the proposed sculpture park adds to NDMC’s list of cultural initiatives that seek to reposition central Delhi as a centre for public art and community engagement. The coming months will determine how these plans are implemented and how the new installations will shape Nehru Park’s evolving identity.

FAQs

1. What is NDMC planning at Nehru Park?

NDMC is planning to develop a dedicated outdoor sculpture park featuring large-scale artworks by leading Indian sculptors.

2. Where will the sculpture park be located?

The proposed site is inside Nehru Park, particularly around the Srijan Art Gallery area, though a committee will finalise the exact location.

3. What is the artists’ symposium?

NDMC will organise a month-long symposium where around 15 sculptors will create 10–15 ft sculptures on-site, allowing visitors to watch the creative process live.

4. When will the sculpture park open?

A final timeline is yet to be announced. Work is expected to progress after the symposium concludes.

5. Why is NDMC setting up a sculpture park?

The initiative aims to promote public art, expand cultural engagement, and integrate artistic expression into Delhi’s urban spaces.