Chandni Chowk restoration project to be taken up,at last

There is a glitch however. The ‘complete new look’ of the heritage area will not be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games.

MCD officials said since the bidding process would take time,the work might start only by March this year. The project would be implemented in different phases,MCD officials said,adding they would be more “realistic” now and take up only “as much work as can be completed on time”.

“Not all work will be completed before the Commonwealth Games because of previous delays. In the first phase,therefore,we would begin only as much work as can be completed before October,when the Games begin,” said Suman K Gupta,Chandni Chowk area councillor.

Besides implementing the crucial traffic decongestion plan,all encroachments would be removed under the first phase of the project. Thus,neither the heritage structures in the area would be completely restored nor novelties like trams would be introduced by the time the Games kick off.

Officials said till the final tender is awarded,the MCD has decided to begin preliminary work like removing encroachments and overground cables and loose wires in the area.

Besides,the civic body plans to implement the first phase of the project by June. This also includes decongesting traffic,increasing space for pedestrians by restricting traffic movement,widening roads including the existing 3.5-metre lanes,road carpeting,installing street furniture and creating new multi-level parking space for traders as well as shoppers.

The civic body has also decided to deal with encroachers with a heavy hand now. “It is a day’s work to remove encroachments and unauthorised parking. Once the plan takes off,we will manage to control all other factors easily,” said an MCD official.

It is,however,yet to fix a deadline for one of the raging problems of the area,shifting out wholesale traders from Chandni Chowk.

“Shifting wholesale traders is dependent on other factors like readying the alternate space under the Delhi Development Authority. So it is difficult to give a deadline now. We are,however,confident of implementing the project in a time-bound manner this time,” the official said.

In store under Phase-I
* Removing encroachments
* Decongesting traffic
* Increasing space for pedestrians by restricting traffic movement
* Road widening
* Road carpeting
* Installing street furniture
* Multi-level parking space for traders,shoppers