President Kovind inaugurated the park by unveiling a plaque and was also given a tour of the garden.
Endowed with a Mughal-style 'baradari' and rich stocks of flowers, a new heritage-themed park near Jama Masjid in old Delhi was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday.
The park was opened amid colourful cultural performances, strains of classical music and traditional dance by a troupe of artists in the 'baradari' which was decked up with flowers and a chandelier.
President Kovind inaugurated the park by unveiling a plaque. He was also given a tour of the garden during his brief visit.
In the first phase, an area of about 1.75 acres has been developed at an estimated cost of Rs 7.65 crore, civic officials said.
After months of hard labour and meticulous planning, the plot, which was earlier covered in filth and encroached from multiple sides and often used by anti-social elements, has been transformed into a beautiful park, they said.
Conceived in 2017, the park has been built with North Delhi Municipal Corporation's funds and contributions from various MPs cutting across party lines and former Union minister Vijay Goel, officials had earlier said.
It has been developed using rich stocks of flowers and has structures built with traditional craftsmanship.
A white marble-made 'baradari' (pavilion) with cusped arches is the centrepiece of this garden while red sandstone, white marble, Dholpur stone, and Delhi quartzite stones have been used in the construction.
In the second phase of this urban renewal project, the remaining 2.25 acres is to be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 10.03 crore. For the first phase, the NDMC had arranged Rs 4.70 crore from its resources, officials said.
The second phase also envisages reviving the old water stream (referred to as 'nahar' by locals) that existed on a stretch located adjacent to the current boundary wall of the park, they said.
The park is also endowed with Mughal-style 'chatris', stone railings and lamp posts, borrowing design elements from the Red Fort's ramparts, ornate gates, a sunken open-air theatre, and also has toilet facilities.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev, mayors of three BJP-led municipal corporations -- Raja Iqbal Singh (NDMC), Mukesh Suryan (SDMC) and Shyam Sunder Aggarwal (EDMC), senior BJP leader Baijayant Panda, and Rajya Sabha member Roopa Ganguly, who also has contributed funds for the park, were among those present on the occasion.
"I am very happy to have contributed funds for this project through MPLADS, and delighted to see this beautiful park finally being inaugurated today. Heritage plays a very important role in any society and this is a great addition to the recreational spaces in Delhi," Ms Ganguly told PTI.
A food court area has also been developed, said architect Kapil Aggarwal, who designed the park.
The park sits in close proximity to the 17th century Jama Masjid and faces Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on the other side.
"We wanted visitors to feel the park was part of both the sites and therefore, we chose heritage elements after careful research, so that new structures would complement the existing heritage fabric of the region," he added.
The part, which is to be developed under the second phase, is now slowly being barricaded, and civic officials said work has begun to reclaim the neighbouring plot fully for the park project.
A senior NDMC official had earlier said the park has "rich stocks" of flowers and shrubberies, including petunia, dog flowers, marigold, carnation, poinsettia, ornamental cabbage, croton and furcaria.
"Once we open it to public, there will be a nominal ticket fee," he said.
Visitors will also get to enjoy delicious cuisine of Chandni Chowk and handicrafts of Old Delhi at the park, officials said.
The park, located opposite the Parade Ground parking facility, was originally named 'Heritage Park'. The name of Charti Lal Goel, former deputy mayor of the erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi and first Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, was later prefixed to it, officials said.
A white marble bust of Charti Lal Goel, father of Vijay Goel, has also been installed near the ornately-carved 'baradari'.
President Kovind garlanded the statue and also posed for some pictures.
An amount of Rs 17.68 crore was required towards the completion of the project which has been planned in two phases, officials said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)