Madrid going car-free could trigger a global trend for pedestrian friendly cities

As part of smart city project, the government last week announced that the middle and inner circle roads of Delhi’s Connaught Place will be made vehicle-free for three months starting from February. Officials said that vehicular traffic will be barred on these roads to facilitate the move of pedestrians in the area which is known as heart of the national capital.

According to experts, car-free Connaught Place will not only reduce the immediate exposure of people to air pollution but also spell boon for traders in the area contrary to fears of a slump. In fact, similar measures worldwide have translated into a dramatic increase in sales and also rentals. CP, as the area is popularly known as, is poised to become an “open-air mall” once the decision is implemented, they opine.

NDMC and Delhi Police officials have stated that ‘pedestrianisation’ could be promoted by declaring the middle and inner circular roads of Connaught Place vehicle free by providing effective ‘park and ride’ services from major parking areas at Shivaji Stadium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg Palika parking. Total parking capacity at these three locations is 3,172 and on an average only 1,088 vehicles are being parked. This unutilized capacity could be fully used by promoting ‘park and ride’ concept, they said.