How about a new Connaught Place in Delhi Dwarka, old Gurgaon, Greater NOIDA, Faridabad or Najafgarh? Eight storeyes of shops and restaurants? Maybe hotel rooms too? underground parking? Lawns, waterfronts and flower beds? Which builder can take it up?
The nostalgia for Connaught Place goes wild. There are so many fans actively seeking that experience from Connaught Place again in their lives behoves another Connaught Place elsewhere built with modern planning with that heritage flavour by a builder who or which believes in cherishing such memories.
Satish Chopra
Nostalgia haunts! I recall my the then College (PGDAV) days during the period 1960-63, when I saw the films of genius Bimal Roy and Raj Kapoor and could afford Rs.1.25 ticket (maximum during those days was Rs.2.50. Regal cinema hall is situated merely 2 kms from our College (then situated at Chitra Gupta Road and DTC Bus fare was merely Ten Paise. Standard Restaurant was adjacent to Regal which was famous for Expresso Coffee costing 75 paise with a complementary chocolate biscuit. Another option was Madras Hotels Masala Dosa costed 75 paise and a Sada Dosa costed 50 Paise. I don’t as to how our present day generation will evaluate, when me and my classmate Premsheel once had one Masala Dosa besides a Sada Dosa with aggregate cost of Rs.1.25. and finally shared both the items- amount as 60 and 65 paise. Needless to says another adjacent to Regal cinema was Gaylord Restaurant, was beyond my reach, as a cup of Coffee during 1962-63 was Rs.1.25 and a tip of at least 25 paise. While writing about the bygone days and later on about one of my visits at Taj, Mumbai. I can merely add a memory of one of my top favorites numbers from film of ‘Tarana’ composed by Anil Biswas and sung by Lata Mangeshkar- Satish Chopra is one of National Film Awardees for his book entitled ‘Forgotten Masters of Hindi Cinema’ and the year was 2016.
Vijay Kumar Handa
I have worked as a Manager in United Coffee House from 1968 to 1993. I know better CP during this period. Kwality, Gaylord, Cellers, Laguna, Madras Hotel, Nanking Sweets, Embassy, Volga and many more Residents. I used to attend all meetings of Restaurant Association. Narula, Tivoli, Gaya Time, Golden Dragon Restaurans and so many other…… Standard Restaurant, Pastry Shop, Juke Box and opposite Rivoli Galory’s where now there are State Emporiums. CP has completely changed. In the Regal Building there used to be DDA Office before it moved away to new building. Before, Host there was Bhawnani and Sons a Stationery Shop. There were good Wine Shops, Empire Store, Kake da Hotel above Hari Singh Travel in Plaza Cinema Building…… So many Yaden, very difficult to bayan karo…. KEVENTER was a Milk Supply Chain. When Government presurised the KEVENTER and Polson Company were asked to windup and thus Amul was born….. People don’t know the actual reasons of growth of Amul.. Barmah Shell was also closed….. So many stories. Now this KEVENTER can’t use the name. Original has taken over. This can sell Shakes etc. People are still crazy. Being Delhiet I never tried their products because they used too much of essance….. I never like their smell…..
