West Delhi: Unauthorized parking takes away shopping charm at Tilak Nagar

As soon as one walks out of the Tilak Nagar metro station in West Delhi, one finds himself in chaos where motorbikes and rickshaws come from all directions and unauthorized parking leads to an unavoidable bad experience. Shoppers coming to the market leaves agitated as the numerous Mehendi-walas and vendors flock the pavements thus leaving no space to walk.

"I had been told that Tilak Nagar is the most reasonable and best market in West Delhi and thus came specially to do some shopping for my kids back home, but I am so disappointed with all these parked vehicles and vendors on the pavements due to which pedestrians are almost bumping into each other. I do not think I am returning here ever," said Manorama Kaul, a native of Srinagar on a visit to Delhi.

Earlier this month, DNA had carried an impactful story on how illegal parking had plagued Tilak Nagar area, after which the neighborhood's residents, along with official authorities, had decided to regularise the area's parking situation and to remove abandoned vehicles lying along the stretch. But despite this, the market area has seen no improvement.

On any given day, huge traffic jams, both vehicular and pedestrian, can be seen where people are just not able to move.

With Delhi government on a mission to turn city's markets into vehicle free zones, starting with Chandni Chowk, where the main Chandni Chowk-Fatehpuri Masjid road has been converted into a pedestrian-only street during the day, shopkeepers at the Tilak Nagar market feel hopeful that they too will get a respite from the increased number of rickshaws and unauthorized parking, which is taking away the charm of the old market.