A prominent street in the heart of the Indian capital was yesterday named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The decision to rename Park Street, stretching from Shankar Road-Mandir Marg traffic roundabout to Mother Teresa Crescent in front of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, was taken by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) a day before Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was to arrive in New Delhi on a four-day visit.

NDMC Vice-Chairman Karan Singh Tanwar said, "The task of changing the signboards will be carried out tonight [last night] to ensure that it is completed before the Bangladesh PM's arrival tomorrow [today]."

The road named after Bangabandhu, the father of the nation, is over half a kilometre.

"It has been decided to rename Park Street after founder of Bangladesh --Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- ahead of Sheikh Hasina's visit. This is like a friendly gesture as India shares cordial relations with Bangladesh," a senior NDMC official said.

According to NDMC officials, 12 of the council members, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, agreed to the proposal, while one member of his Aam Aadmi Party from Delhi Cantonment Surinder Singh refused to give consent.