The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) carried out its pilot project in Connaught Place on Sunday, prohibiting vehicles from entering the inner circle of the famous market situated in the heart of the national Capital. However, traders claimed that the decision to “ban” vehicles from entering the inner circle of CP, which is the hub of bars and restaurants, has affected their businesses that witnessed a sharp decline. Restaurant owners claimed to have lost 80 per cent business on Sunday.
The civic body had introduced this controversial plan in January 2017 to ban vehicles in inner and middle circle of CP but after widespread condemnation from all the stakeholders, the ban order was revoked.
Vikram Badhwar, the general secretary of New Delhi Traders’ Association (NDTA), said that traders did not protest on Sunday to show the NDMC that how impractical idea it is! “We have already witnessed a lesser footfall in comparion to other Sundays due to this dictatorial decision of the NDMC. Each and every business were affected today, mainly bar and restaurants which are mostly situated in the inner circle.
Badhwar further said, “We are going to have a meeting with traders on Wednesday to discuss the situation and we will announce future course of action, including
protest till this draconian decision of the NDMC is withdrawn.
According to a senior officer in NDMC, the project is implemented on the weekend (Sunday) and the council will come with detailed plan after consulting all the stakeholders and considering all the points.
The official said that autos and taxis were restricted from entering the inner circle but they were allowed to use the middle circle for exit to outer circle.
“Traffic police consultants, civic wardens and NDMC security staff were present in the area to help commuters adjust to the new setup.
The parking lots and the underground parking in Palika Bazaar were available only to the vehicles destined to Connaught Place,” he said.
Terming the move ridiculous, a trader who did not wish to be named said that the move once implemented, will take away the interest of traders here. “One needs to know that Connaught Place is a commercial hub which cannot be turned into a tourist destination,” he said.
Earlier, traders had raised objection to the plan claiming that the NDMC had tweaked its earlier plan. They also staged a protest alleging that the civic body has now adopting a different plan than what was agreed upon in the previous meeting.
As per the earlier plan, it was decided to make the inner circle completely car-free on order to focus on pedestrianising the blocks but allowing car users access to all parking lots in the inner and outer circles, he said.