It was a coincidence that I drove past Connaught Place today, after having read HT’s campaign in this morning’s paper to revive the city centre, which is lying in dug up shambles at this time. It’s a pity indeed, for CP really has the capability to be that one public space that the entire NCR relates to and makes its own. It has the open spaces, the scale, the period architecture, the central greens, a variety of retail and entertainment options, and food. And it also has the connectivity.

To me, CP is tinged with nostalgia and i will always love it. Today, it was washed in the special light of a sunny-cloudy day. The colours were brighter than usual and I was struck by the wonderful informality of street life in India, once again as I drove past. Here are some clicks from my iphone, taken from inside a moving car. Fun!

Delhi’s wonderfully forlorn interstitial spaces. This is the railway track behind Bengali Market!

Another view. It’s a breached wall and people simply walk across the tracks if they feel like it!

Whoever wants to take away the hawkers must be crazy! What would this city be without these stalls?

The Statesman House came up when we were in SPA or thereabouts. Subject of many lively debates about ‘context’. In the foreground, the barriers for all the renovation work that never ends!

LIC Building…much studied, much admired, much trashed. Right behind this was our site for Urban Design Studio….memories!

On the way back to Gurgaon. Always a memorable landmark to cross!

And finally, a quirky piece of graffiti near the Palam airport!