CP decongestion plan triggers debate over business impact

Traffic and parking hassles notwithstanding, Connaught Place is the must-go-to place for citizens and visitors alike. A suggestion to make the inner circle of this prestigious market traffic-free for fixed hours has sparked a fresh debate about pros and cons. The suggestion to decongest Connaught Place came from none other than NDMC chief Manoj Dwivedi on Thursday. He raised the question of whether the move should be implemented throughout the day or during specific hours.  This has prompted the New Delhi Market Association to oppose the plan, saying the market is already designed to facilitate pedestrian movement and that restricting vehicles could affect businesses. 

Dwivedi’s suggestion outreach on X invited appreciation and responses from many social media users who commented on the post.  This is not the first attempt to reduce vehicles inside Connaught Place’s Inner Circle. Similar plans and trials have been undertaken in the past, but a permanent vehicle-free system has not materialised.

“Can we make inner circle of CP vehicle-free so that people can walk around freely, like on some mall roads or central areas in foreign cities. 2. Should we do it for full day or do it from 6 pm to midnight in summers and 11 am to 4 pm in winters? 3. Some different timing for weekends? 4. What kind of activities would you prefer in Central Park and inner circle during no-vehicle slots.  Positive suggestions would be appreciated,” he posted on ‘X’ on Thursday. In another post on X, Dwivedi said, “People would like to be in Connaught Place till late. So, from tomorrow onwards, timings for 11 public toilets are being extended up to midnight. More will follow in due course.”

In a subsequent post later in the day, Dwivedi said the suggestions received would be examined before the proposal is taken forward, including through a SWOT analysis. He said the exercise would require a “good amount of planning” and consultations with traffic police and other stakeholders before any implementation. “I will study all these in due course at first opportunity (maybe after the BRICS summit is over). Will do a SWOT analysis also. This will need a good amount of planning before we move towards implementation in the best manner possible,” he wrote in a post on X.

The latest proposal seeks to go beyond simply keeping cars away. NDMC is considering turning the Inner Circle and Central Park into spaces for public activities, including cultural programmes, music, street performances, art exhibitions, yoga sessions, children’s activities and heritage walks. The area has experimented with pedestrian-only periods through “Raahgiri”, under which the Inner Circle is opened to people on select Sundays for activities such as walking, cycling, fitness sessions and street performances. The proposed arrangement could give such pedestrian-focused use a more regular place in Connaught Place, while allowing vehicular movement during the remaining hours. Connaught place being a major shopping and hangout hub for Delhiites draws a lot of traffic everyday. The traffic is unusually higher on weekends thus leading to traffic jams.

Responding to a post on X by NDMC Chairman Manoj Dwivedi seeking public views on making the inner circle vehicle-free for fixed hours, the association said there was “absolutely no question” of such a move.

“There is absolutely no question of making CP inner circle vehicle-free, as the market is already well designed for enough pedestrian movement,” it said.  A member of the association said an earlier attempt to make the inner circle vehicle-free had failed. The association also said removing vehicle movement in front of showrooms could affect businesses and the exclusivity of the market and its shops. 

Dwivedi’s suggestion outreach on X invited appreciation and responses from many social media users who commented on the post. One user appreciated the move, saying it was great to see him “crowdsourcing” suggestions and that it was “wonderful” to see the pedigree behind the institution he is heading. He added that a similar initiative, called Raahgiri, was held in Gurugram several years ago every Sunday, which he said encouraged community participation in sports and other activities.

“Time slots is an excellent approach for preliminary stage. Only suggestion is that time slot for vehicle entry ban should not be during peak hours (for example, 8-11 am and 5-8 pm), otherwise the traffic snarls will stretch even further,” stated a user on ‘X’.