The Hindu : New Delhi News : NDMC’s CP traffic plan hits roadblock

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

NDMC’s CP traffic plan hits roadblock

Manisha Jha

Traders’ association expresses reservations

NDMC is proposing a “three-loop traffic system”
Such a traffic plan will spell death knell for CP: traders

NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Traders’ Association, one of the main stakeholders in the New Delhi Municipal Council’s Connaught Place re-development project, has expressed strong reservations over the parking and traffic circulation plan proposed by the civic body for Connaught Place.

According to the NDTA, after changing the traffic plan in July 2006, the NDMC is again proposing to change the traffic flow into a “three-loop system” under which traffic restrictions are planned in such a way as to ensure closure of through traffic in the Inner Circle and wherein incoming traffic from Janpath will take a right turn and move out from Barakhamba Road and so on for other radial roads.

NDTA president Atul Bhargava said: “The new traffic circulation plan would mean changes in entry and exit points leading to confusion. Moreover, the new plan would choke the Outer Circle by removing signals and introducing a three-loop and six-lane system.

“Such a traffic plan will adversely affect our business across the board and spell the death knell for Connaught Place. We plan to oppose it tooth and nail and are ready to go against it at the highest levels,” he added.

Also on the cards is complete pedestrianisation of the Inner and Middle Circles and virtual removal of surface car parking from most blocks. “The NDMC has proposed removal of surface parking of 5,500 cars virtually from all areas of Inner, Outer, Middle Circles and radial roads and their replacement by underground parking for about 1,000 cars under the Inner Circle. The existing parking areas meanwhile are to be used for pedestrianisation.”

According to the NDTA, the pedestrianisation of Inner Circle and Middle Circle to cover about 1 km and 1.5 km respectively would dissuade customers from travelling these distances on foot under extreme conditions and come to Connaught Place.

It would also ignore the needs of Connaught Place as a business district and try to create a recreational park.

“Instead of implementation this new traffic management plan,” Mr. Bhargava said, “the NDMC should try to improvise the existing traffic plan for Connaught Place. It’s a great plan on paper but unfortunately it lacks practicality.”

The NDMC is giving a patient hearing to the woes of the concerned traders. NDMC Chairman Parimal Rai said: “Problems in such a project are inevitable and we are trying to work on alternative solutions to the different issues in the matter. If the traders, however, want the parking for their customers to be provided at their shops’ doorstep then that is not possible. Earlier the traders were opposing the Metro but now it’s the Metro that is fetching them so many customers. Likewise once this new system too is in place I am sure it will only add to the traders’ business in Connaught Place.”

“The important thing is that with the commencement of the C-Block restoration work, the Connaught Place re-development project has finally moved on the ground after a lot of delays and setbacks. Now that it has started, issues will hopefully keep on getting settled as we go along,” he added.

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