The clock is ticking for the much-awaited Connaught Place (CP) revamp project to end. Although the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is positive about meeting the June 30 deadline, a round of the commercial hub is enough to realise that work at a few places may well take another month.
laying of cables and water lines is proving to be a Herculean task as the agencies have been stuck with it for months together. "Major works have been done, but fixing electricity cables and water lines are still going. This takes most of the time as we have to lay them in phases," said an NDMC official.
The outer circle seems most neglected. While paving is ongoing, debris and garbage are strewn about.
NDMC, however, claims that visitors would not be troubled too much now, as much of the pending work lies underground. The civic body recently got fire approval for tunneling work. "Surface and façade redevelopment have been completed. Tunnels have also been made," said the official.
Incomplete work can also be seen in the two new subways in front of Block D and E. While additional mouths have been constructed for handicapped people in five of its subways, escalators are yet to be installed.
Hundreds of iron rods are exposed in the walls and it is hard to believe they would be covered in a day.
"We have bought 10 escalators from China and they will be installed in the subways within two to three days. Earlier, four escalators were installed in two subways at KG Marg and Super Bazar," the official said.
Most importantly, this shopper's paradise lacks green cover. Most of its dividers in inner circle parking areas are brown and bare.
Again, the NDMC insisted, "The horticulture department has started greenery work of CP at a swift pace. It will be done soon."
Meanwhile, traders at CP believe that though customers won't be affected, they certainly will.
"last-mile connectivity of services like water and electricity is still not done. It is hampering sales as we have to switch to generators time and again. Moreover, the agency will have to paint blocks once again or make some rule to prevent people from spitting," listed Atul Bhargawa, president of New Delhi Traders' Association.
"In the middle circle, flower beds also have to me made. Granite blocks in many of the dividers have already started to come out," he added.
The civic body also has to properly fix the rainwater pipes which it had installed before, added Bhargawa.
Meanwhile, NDMC chairperson Archana Arora inspected progress on Friday. "We expect work to be completed by June 30.
Some work is yet to be finished but we are swiftly marching towards successful completion of the project," she asserted.
Sept ‘opening' on cardsIJ
Despite all odds, Connaught Place is emerging from its long-pending facelift. All agencies, including NDMC, are getting their act together.
The commercial hub of the city now wears a cleaner look after the past few months. The civic body, since Wednesday, has deployed special forces for cleaning. "We have deployed one chief executive for each block. He will take care of cleanliness in his zone and its vicinity. Extra workforce has been engaged to clear the debris and garbage," said AK Mishra, spokesperson of NDMC.
Besides, the agency has also completed construction of nine new toilets in the middle circle, which will be open for public from July 1. Mishra also said bollards would be installed at footpaths to avoid vehicles crashing on to them.
Officials further said radial roads will soon be adorned with planters and carpet grass covers. Sources said the Chief Minister, along with NDMC and CP's traders, is mulling over the idea of organising a gala 'opening' of CP some time in September.