Ramakrishna Puram popularly known as R.K. Puram, is a Central Government Employees residential colony in South West Delhi named after the saint Sri Ramakrishna.
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It was built in the second phase of extension of New Delhi, which started in late 1950's by acquiring land from Munirka farmers. Developed by CPWD to south-West of Central Secretariat, its development continued till 1970s, when R. K. Puram was established. It mostly contains double-storeyed housing blocks, with 2-3 bedrooms apartments for junior officers. Some high-rise apartment blocks like Nivedita Kunj for senior officers were added in the 1980s. Gradually markets were added in each pocket, and schools and places of worship were also built. Today the area also house several houses of Government of India.[1]
It is one of the oldest and larger developments in Delhi built for housing Central Government employees. It is roughly rectangular, enclosed by Ring Road to the north, Outer Ring Road to the south facing Vasant Vihar, Rao Tula Ram Marg to the west and Africa Avenue to the east. The north-eastern corner of this area is a separate commercial centre called Madam Bhikaji Cama Place.
It is subdivided into 13 "Sectors" which are named numerically from 1 to 13. Sector-13 is the only sector located on the other side of the Ring Road. The area includes a number of important landmarks - Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram in Sector 12, Sangam Cinema hall and D.A.V. Public School in Sector-9, National Association Blind School and Tamil Sangam in Sector-5, Ramjas School, R. K. Puram and Delhi Tamil Education Association Senior Secondary School {D.T.E.A} in Sector-4, Lal Bhadur Shastri School and Management Institute in Sector-3, Electronics shopping centre in Sector-6 (Mohan Singh Market), Malai Mandir in Sector-7 are a few of them.
R. K. Puram is also famous for its two weekly markets. The Friday Market happens every Friday on the road connecting the Office Complex outside Sector-1 and Mohammadpur. The Sunday Market which takes place every Sunday takes up the entire road between Sector-6 and Sector-7. Both markets host stalls of all kinds including fruits and vegetables, spices, clothes, leather goods, kitchen utilities and so on. Prices are totally negotiable and customers bargaining with vendors have become a common sight. The weekly markets attract large crowds most of them belonging to the middle and lower classes.
R. K. Puram is well connected to different parts of the city by buses of the Delhi Transport Corporation. Most common routes through R K Puram include 623 from Vasant Vihar to Shahdara, 544 from Sector-1 R. K. Puram to Badarpur, 764 from Nehru Place to Najafgarh, 680 from Ambedkar Nagar to Central Secretariat, 711 from Janakpuri to Sarai Kale Khan, 611 from Dhaula Kuan to Mayur Vihar, 604 from Vasant Kunj to New Delhi Railway Station and 620 from Hauz Khas to Shivaji Stadium. The Mudrika Bus ServiceMudrika Bus Service is available on the Ring Road, while the Outer Mudrika Bus Service passes through R. K. Puram. A special bus service also plies from Sector-1 R. K. Puram to Gurgaon.
R. K. Puram currently does not lie on any of the current Delhi Metro routes. The nearest stations are AIIMS, Hauz Khas or Dhaula Kuan. Once the Phase III of the Delhi Metro gets completed, R. K. Puram will lie on the Janakpuri-Botanical Gardens line with a station at Munirka and on the Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar line with a station at Bhikaji Cama Place.