Having remained out of bounds for over 10 months, India Gate has once again come to life with hundreds of visitors thronging the monument. However, Delhi Police has added a caveat saying the World War I memorial will be a vendor-free zone. Vendors can now sell their wares on Rajpath. New Delhi district police has allowed opening India Gate to public from 9 am to 5 pm. Those coming to see the monument will not be allowed to sit on the lawns either.
Earlier vendors could have stalls selling chaat, ice cream, corn, tea, coffee, candy floss near India Gate. While this attracted visitors, it polluted the premises. Visitors chucked trash on the lawns and on roads. Families having picnics on the lawns often left scrap behind.
Delhi Police has now earmarked a zone in Rajpath monikering it a vendors street. About 70-80 vendors with valid permit from New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have been authorised to put up stalls on both sides of the road.
Rajpath lies between Mansingh Road and Janpath. “Vendors are not allowed on Mansingh Road and the C-Hexagon. After midnight, all vendors have to vacate the premises. In future, should the numbers of vendor increase, they can have their stalls on Rafi Marg,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) SBS Tyagi.
