Proposal may hit a roadblock as NDMC and traffic police are yet to come up with a concrete layout
The plan to make Connaught Place (CP) a vehicle-free zone could hit a major roadblock as traders, residents, restaurant owners and other stakeholders have threatened to move court against the proposal. The New Delhi Municipal Corporation’s (NDMC) vehicle-free plan is aimed at reducing congestion and pollution in the area.
In a meeting with the traders’ association on Tuesday, NDMC officials showed the members two plans, asking them to choose one. Traders claimed the corporation’s plan did not serve any purpose. A miffed traders’ association is now planning to move court.
Sources, meanwhile, said the plan was supposed to be implemented starting February but the civic body and the Delhi Traffic Police are yet to come up with a concrete layout.
“They have left us with no option. We do not agree with the suggested plans. The NDMC officials themselves asked us to move court. We will have a meeting with the other stakeholders soon and if needed, we will move court,” said Atul Bhargava, the president of the New Delhi Traders’ Association (NDTA). He added: “No customer is going to park their vehicle on Hanuman Road, Shivaji Stadium or KG Marg, and then walk or take public transport to CP for shopping. We have categorically said no to the plan. We have suggested that parking be allowed in front of the shops.”
As per the NDMC plan, one can either enter from Janpath and then take an exit from Baba Kharak Singh Marg, or the middle circle can be used for pick-and-drop services. People driving to CP can park at designated slots at Shivaji Stadium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Palika Bazaar, and take a free shuttle service to the market.
“My only recommendation to the government is to conduct at least one trial run before executing the no-vehicle zone plan. While I have nothing against the move, there is a big question mark over its feasibility. How can we expect it to be a success when there is no alternative means of transport? There is no shuttle service or e-rickshaw. No one would like to park kilometres away and then shop. If the government goes ahead with the plan without any feasibility study, CP will stop breathing,” said Junkyard owner Umang Tewari.
According to an estimate, as many as 3,172 cars can be accommodated in parking lots at Shivaji Stadium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, and Palika Bazaar. But on an average, only 1,088 vehicles are being parked there.
The Delhi Police and the NDMC officials said the unutilized space could be fully used by promoting the ‘park and ride’ plan. There would be cycles on hire and battery-operated vehicles for shoppers and visitors to move around CP. Officials said if the traffic plan becomes permanent, it would free up space for landscaping and construction of water bodies to act as humidifiers in the walking zone.
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