Following complaints by traders about dipping sales and endless traffic jams in Connaught Place because of the re-development project undertaken by the New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna on Monday set a one-week deadline for the civic body, the traffic police and the New Delhi Traders’ Asociation to find an “agreeable” solution.
In keeping with his direction to take another look at the various projects, a fresh traffic advisory is likely to be issued for CP within a week. The decision was taken by the Lieutenant-Governor at an emergency meeting on Monday attended by the NDMC Chairman, the Delhi Police Commissioner and representatives of the New Delhi Traders’ Association, the biggest stakeholder in the project.
Describing the meeting as “very fruitful”, L-G’s Officer on Special Duty Ranjan Mukherjee said the concerns of all sides were heard out and the three issues discussed were façade restoration in the Inner Circle, ducting work in the Middle Circle and construction of eight new subways in the Outer Circle.
“The L-G stated that in the Middle Circle one lane should be kept open for emergency use and ducting work should be carried out by opening and closing pits instead of digging up the entire stretch at one go leading to blocked access to commercial establishments. He also said there was a need to take a re-look at the actual requirement of new subways in CP considering that five subways are already there. He also felt that to improve access to commercial establishments, a safe passage will have to be provided to pedestrians while work is on,” he added.
Expressing the civic body’s concern over timely execution of the project, an NDMC official said: “Given the tight deadline we will not be able to stop the work completely, but at the same time we do not want either the traders or the customers to be inconvenienced. We will work with the traffic police and NDTA to find a practical solution. We are also trying to rework the traffic diversions presently in place in the Outer Circle.” NDTA president Atul Bharghav said: “We discussed solutions including shifting of the barricades to ease traffic movement, widening the road at certain stretches and increasing parking in the Outer Circle to ensure that people do not stop visiting CP.”
