In a major move to decongest Inner and Middle circles of Connaught Place and make the area pedestrian-friendly, cars and buses will not be allowed there for three months from February.
“The ban is part of a pilot smart city project that will be launched next month. As part of the project, the imposing commercial area built by Edwin lutyens in 1933-will be barred to traffic,” said NDMC Chairman Naresh Kumar in an official statement.
The decision was taken in a review meeting on NDMC’s Smart City projects, chaired by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu. The meeting was attended by the top brass of Delhi Traffic Police.
‘Park and ride’ services on cycles and battery-operated vehicles will be offered from the surrounding parking areas at Shivaji Stadium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Palika parking. “The total parking capacity at these three locations is 3,172 and only 1,088 vehicles are parked on an average (daily),” said a Delhi Police official.
The Minister said the ban is meant to offer a “congestion-free, accident-free and crime- free” experience to visitors.
In the meeting, Naidu also discussed the possibility of landscaping, developing water bodies, side walk cafes, public plazas, holding light and sound shows and street festivals.
The Urban Development Ministry said the three-month “pedestrianisation” of the area, which has the city’s most recognisable heritage structures, will test the effects on traffic, management of reclaimed parking lots, and record the experience of the pedestrians and shop owners.
Responding to a query as to by when the people would feel the impact of it, Naresh Kumar said that the results on ground could be seen in the next four to five months.
He further said that work on strengthening of smart energy grid network would begin next month and work on automatic metering with automatic demand response work and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in March this year.
“Administrative approval for rehabilitation of water supply networks under smart water management, smart automatic meters and water quality sensors is likely to be accorded at the Council’s meeting next week,” Kumar added.
The plan is part of the ambitious plan of the NDMC to develop the Inner Circle as a “happiness area” where artists would get a platform to hold shows, exhibitions and concerts. This will add more colour to the Inner Circle.
Since Connaught Place is one of the most frequented areas and situated in the heart of the national Capital, Delhiites and people from neighbouring cities visit the area, the NDMC is planning to encourage artists to showcase their talent by their variegated cultural performances. This redeveloped area has the potential to become the cultural hub of the city and more plans are afoot to make it more attractive, said an NDMC official.
With restriction on vehicular entry into the Inner Circle area, the footfall is likely to increase. Due to its connectivity with Delhi Metro and parking lots available in the Outer Circle, the civic agency hopes the idea would receive a positive response.