New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Thursday floated a proposal to make the city's iconic Connaught Place more visitor-friendly, seeking suggestions from people to make its inner circle a vehicle-free zone.
Taking to X, NDMC chairman Manoj Dwivedi said that every person in Delhi NCR has visited Connaught Place, so he needed advice from them. He asked the people to make the area vehicle-free like some mall roads or central areas in foreign cities.
Dwivedi sought suggestions on four points
Inner circle to be free: Dwivedi wrote, "People can walk around freely like on some mall roads or central areas in foreign cities."
Restriction: Dwivedi asked it the restrictions could be implemented for full day or from 6 pm to midnight in summers and 11 am to 4 pm in winters
Weekend timings: He also sought suggestions from the people on whether there should be a different restriction timing during weekends.
Activities in Central Park: Dwivedi also asked people about what kind of activities they would prefer in Central Park and Inner Circle during no vehicle slots.
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Move gets appreciation
The NDMC chair's social media outreach seeking suggestions was widely appreciated by users. Netizens started commenting below the post with suggestions and praises.
A user suggested an enforcement team at the site. "Great initiative, but first please remove the STREET HAWKERS! & beggars! It's an absolute nuisance! They keep coming back! Where are the enforcement teams? They should be there permanently! Even Tourist Police with proper neon jackets & pedestrian scooters," the user added.
Another user suggested that the decision would require an increase in the number of buses to Connaught Place.
"Making the inner circle free from cars has to be supplemented with a lot of buses going there. Also, housing can be developed in CP by slowly replacing old buildings, so it becomes a self-sufficient superblock. If this happens, property prices there can rival Golf Course Road, Gurgaon," he said.
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Challenges
It is not the first time that banning car entry was considered. The past plans didn't materialise. Besides, there are several challenges that need to be addressed.
Parking issue: If the NDMC plans to ban the entry, it would require ample parking facilities with additional traffic arrangements near those sites.
Traders' concern: Traders, including shops, restaurants and other establishments, have reportedly raised concern for a long time over absolute vehicle restrictions as it would make harder for customers to reach businesses.