The restoration of the buildings in Connaught Place is yet to be completed as the New Delhi Municipal Council failed to meet its deadline of April 30. The walls of these structures continue wearing a shabby look.
While plaster is chipping off from some buildings, in the others, paan-stains and broken windows can be seen. Officials said façade development in 10 out of 12 blocks has been completed. NDMC officials, however, blamed the slow pace of work by Engineers India limited (EIl), which is responsible for executing the project.
The delay has happened despite the fact that civic body has excluded middle circle from its facade restoration plan. According to officials, buildings only in inner and outer circles of CP would get this facelift. Defending their stand, official of NDMC said, “We are not working on buildings in middle circle as we have left it to private owners to get it done themselves. They were not agreeing to our plan and cited that it would hamper their business.”
Moreover, the surface development work of CP is still underway and its deadline is set on May 15. Despite a number of assurances from the civic body to clean up the area, heaps of rubble and excavated soil are still strewn in most of the places. Block A, H and K are the worst affected as the roads are dug up for setting up sewer lines.
“Concrete roads are almost ready. Garbage stations and toilets will soon be ready for use. Malba will be completely removed by the deadline, but electric cables will take some time to be shifted and put back in place,” he added.
The CP redevelopment project, which was meant to be completed before the Commonwealth Games held in 2010, is slated to be finally over by June 30. If sources are to be believed, till now over Rs 400 crores have been spent on it.