Opposing the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)’s recent decision to make Inner and Middle circles of Connaught Place a “vehicle free”, Delhi girls have asked the council to ensure their safety and security first before implementing the “irrational” plan.
Terming NDMC’s decision absurd, they urged the civic agency to spell out security arrangements to be put in place for women visitors in CP during the carbandi plan.
Narrating her experience at CP’s Inner Circle on New Year Eve, Taruishi Kukreja, an MBA student told The Pioneer that she and her friends had a harrowing time while walking up to 200 metres to her vehicle after the celebrations. “Since, it was the day of celebrations, we were dressed accordingly. However, all the by-standers began passing lewd comments at us,” said Kukreja, “Even the corridors are not safe for women.”
She also said instead of imposing the ban on private vehicles in the Inner and Middle circles, the council should ensure women’s safety first. “What are the security arrangements for the regular visitors, like us, she added.
Tanaya Arora, a Post Graduate student with Pearl Academy said she used to hang out with my friends and family every weekend. “Dining period with family and friends is timeless and we get late often. CP is fine dining place for families. We were shocked to learn about the NDMC’s carbandi plan. We will not visit CP if our vehicles are not allowed. Walking up to our favourite restaurants will be insecure and too taxing for us. We are not sure whether we will get the old cuisine and drinks at other places or not,” said Arora.
Another girl, who did not want to be named, said, “I face harassment especially during evening hours. Who will guarantee my safety if I am not allowed to park my vehicle near the place I visit. My friends who often visit eating joints and pubs situated in Inner and Middle Circles too face similar problems. NDMC should think about the safety and security of girls first before going ahead with this draconian plan,” she said.
Meanwhile, the much-talked about plan has been deferred as authorities are not ready with concrete plan to initiate their pilot plan. The decision to make Middle and Inner circles of CP vehicle-free from February was announced last month following a meeting chaired by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu and attended by officials of the Urban Development Ministry, NDMC and the Delhi Police.
The NDMC’s plan has not gone down well with traders in the area who feared that the decision will kill their businesses.
They have also contended that the civic agency will not be able to provide the required parking space in three existing parking lots. Total capacity of these three parking lots is 3,172 and around 1,088 vehicles are being parked in these parking lots on an average. The unutilised space would not be enough accommodate all vehicles if promoting ‘park and ride’ concept is implemented, they said.