Getting in and out of Khan Market could become less daunting in the near future as a long-pending underground parking project has finally started.
The posh market complex in Lutyens’ Delhi has been plagued with parking problems for years, with long rows of cars creating a traffic jam in the front and a jumble of vehicles leading to a mess in the back. With inadequate parking spots in and around the market, visitors park their vehicles along the periphery of the complex in two rows, preventing the smooth flow of cars and people.
Long wait
It’s been over five years since the Delhi High Court ordered the authorities to start work on an underground parking facility on the nearby Amrita Shergill Marg. After years of delays, the New Delhi Municipal Council has now begun work on the project.
“We are clearing out the plot of land so that surface-level parking can start while work on the underground facility is under way. We have initiated the design process in-house and will look into hiring consultants if need be,” said NDMC chairperson Naresh Kumar on Tuesday.
Clearing of plot begins
Over the weekend, the NDMC began clearing the 4,972.5 square metre plot, which used to house a gymnasium. Mr. Kumar had said in his budget speech for 2017-2018 that the NDMC had taken possession of the plot and would develop a multi-level parking lot.
He said the work would be carried out by a special purpose vehicle set up by the NDMC for its ‘Smart City’ projects.
The construction would be outsourced on ‘design, build and finance’ model.
For the traders of Khan Market this has been a long-time coming.
It was on a petition filed by the Khan Market Traders’ Association that the Delhi High Court had ordered the construction of the parking facility in July 2011.
“We have been following up with the NDMC for years now, but there has been no progress. We are hopeful that the parking facility will be built now. It will help in reducing the congestion around Khan Market,” said Sanjiv Mehra, the president of the association.
More commercial units
The parking troubles compounded when the first-floor flats in Khan Market, 74 in total, were allowed to be converted to commercial units, said Mr. Mehra.
Since most of these became restaurants - there are about 40 restaurants in total in Khan Market - Mr. Mehra said the number of cars coming to the complex shot up.
When completed, the parking lot will be able to take in about 400 cars.
As of now, about 250 to 300 cars belonging to traders and shop-owners are parked in Khan Market, Mini Market, Prithviraj Market and Lok Nayak Bhawan, said Mr. Mehra.
“We can at least move all the traders cars to the underground parking. At any given point, there are 700 to 800 cars in the four markets,” said Mr. Mehra.
He added that the association had offered to operate battery-run vehicles from the parking facility to the main market.
Apart from that, he said parking for senior citizens and differently-abled visitors would be reserved at the main market.
