East MCD plans to revive Welcome Lake with Rs 22 cr

Light and sound programmes, laser shows, amphitheatre and a meditation garden are among the facilities planned up by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation as part of the Rs 22-crore Welcome Lake redevelopment project in Shahdara, officials said .

The lake, situated in Welcome area in EDMC’s Shahdara (North) Zone is to be redeveloped into an area spanning 17 acres, and the work would be executed in two phases.

East Delhi mayor Meenakshi laid the foundation stone of the project yesterday (Saturday) to kick-start the redevelopment work, he said. “The water of the lake would be treated using pythorid technology. The total cost of the project is Rs 22 crore. The first phase would take nine months and cost about Rs 22 lakh and would involve treatment of the water. The second phase will comprise redevelopment of the park and garden around the lake,” a senior official of the EDMC said.

The redeveloped lake would have light and sound show, laser show, cafeteria, amphitheatre, meditation garden, and walkways besides other park furniture, the official said. Welcome Lake, a landmark in east Delhi, earlier also had the facility of a musical fountain, but later fell into disuse.

“A musical fountain was started in the lake about seven-eight years ago under the then unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi, but it stopped working later,” he said. Besides, the EDMC has also set the ball rolling to build a 28-acre amusement park in Tahirpur area. 

After the closure of Appu Ghar, it would be the only amusement park of the Capital, once opened. “The standing committee has already passed the project. The project will be taken up on a public-private-partnership basis and a consultant has already been hired for this,” he said. Besides, Welcome Lake, DDA’s Sanjay Lake is another landmark in east Delhi. Sanjay Lake is one of the 63 water bodies, which was selected by the DDA earlier this year for their revival under the PPP plan.