Connaught Place has always been a favourite haunt for upper and middle class people and is always in the itinerary of those coming to the national Capital. Be it family get together, hanging around or shopping, CP is one stop destination.
However, the decision by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) not to allow entry of four-wheelers into the inner and middle circles from February 1 has cast a gloom over visitors and those working in retail outlets, restaurants and eateries. They are unanimous in slamming the NDMC’s “irrational” decision.
The Pioneer spoke to some regular visitors and those working restaurants and eating joints to get
their views about NDMC’s car bandi plan.
Harshdeep, a visitor from Tilak Nagar, said that he has already decided not to visit CP after vehicle ban comes into effect. “It is my most-favoured outing place. I visit restaurants here with my family and sometimes with my friends and I leave late in the night but now I cannot do this as there would not be parking
facility and walking with family to get back in car is not safe,” he said.
Vishal Tiwari, a businessman who lives in Maharani Bagh, who came to CP with his wife Kritika Tiwari, said they are regular visitors to CP but would definitely look for better options as walking all the way to CP after parking their vehicle will be too taxing for them.
Siddarth Singh, a student who resides in GTB Nagar in North Delhi, visited CP with his friends but was not aware about the NDMC move but after being informed he said that he generally came here for bars but would think twice to come here after vehicle ban is implemented.
Culture Manager of RestroBar Social Disha Sukhija said, “The move, though yet to be implemented, has taken away the crowd from a happening place like Restro Bar. Patrons have already started to have second ideas about visiting CP and this has already started to reflect on our business. We shudder to think what will happen to our business if the car ban is implemented from February 1.
“If the move is implemented, people will think twice before coming to Connaught Place. People come here with families, friends and in order to do that they would first have park to their cars 1 km away from CP and then walk it down or take e-rickshaws. What about women securityIJ Women would need cabs at night. I myself commute to and fro from my house by cab,” said Disha.
Manager of Tafree café in F block Rohit Kaushik dubbed the decision anti-trader move. “Most importantly our restaurant will hardly have customers. Sales are important but to me happiness is seeing this place jam packed with happy people. Why do the authorities want to rob away our smilesIJ” said Kaushik.
Retail outlet owners also fear that their business will go for a toss once this “irrational” decision comes into force.
Saloni Priya, the Assistant manager of Allen Solly outlet, said that their business was affected because of Commonwealth Games followed by Delhi Metro construction, Raahgiri and now the NDMC move. “I just do not understand what the authorities are planning with Connaught Place. Why are they hell bent to destroy the very ethos of CPIJ” she asked.
“Generally upper and lower middle class people prefer to visit CP not only for shopping but for dining with their dear ones and as CP offers an environment for hangout. But this move to ban the vehicles will surely force them to think of another option. Another point that struck me was what about senior citizens,” added Saloni Priya.
Vikash luthra, manager of Flying Machine outlet, said, “It is difficult to understand what prompted the NDMC to take this bizarre move. Businesses have already been disturbed for years. Why can’t authorities just concentrate on development of other areasIJ There are lots of problems that still persist and instead of fixing them they have come out with this outlandish plan to ban the entry of vehicles.”
“People will definitely switch to other shopping places such as Khan Market, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar and most importantly malls,” luthra rued. “We will lose out customers to other markets,” he said.
Deepak Kumar, store manager of Mufti outlet in F-Block, said, “The NDMC will provide e- rickshaw for inner circle movement but it is not a feasible option. Think of those visiting our showrooms and purchase a shirt worth Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, simply cannot prefer to sit in an e-rickshaw to shop. Instead they will visit malls where they can shop, have option to watch movies and they can find restaurants as well under one umbrella.”
Ramnik Gupta, owner of Sports house in F-Block, said “It is difficult for everyone to park their vehicles outside CP and then walk around a mile to reach CP. Many people come here with their families. Women and children cannot walk for long and why they would bother to come to CP by taking so much of pain. They will go to other places where there is parking available. You can find showrooms and famous outlets everywhere in Delhi and Connaught Place will not be longer a famous choice,” Gupta said.
“Why would families come to CP if their vehicles will be banned from entering to the inner and middle circlesIJ Who would first look for a parking lot and then a e-rickshaw to reach to restaurants,” lamented P Swamy — the owner of Punjabi by Nature situated in S Block.