Restoration and upkeep in focus: Delhi government to divide 1.3-km-long road stretch at Chandni Chowk into 5 parts

Officials said the BJP-led government has now decided to divide the road into five stretches and restore and maintain the crossroads as well.

The first stretch runs from Lal Jain Mandir to Esplanade Road T-Point and includes Red Fort Crossing at NS Marg, Dewan Hall Road and Esplanade Road.

The second one runs from Esplanade Road T-Point to Sis Ganj Sahib Gurudwara and includes Bhagirathi T-Point and Dariba Kalan T-Point.

The third stretch starts from Fountain Chowk, covers HC Sen Marg, Paranthe Wali Gali T-Point, Moti Bazar T-Point and Rai Kedarnath T-Point and ends at Town Hall Crossing.

The fourth, from Town Hall to Ballimaran, covers Town Hall Crossing, Nai Sadak, Shanti Desai Marg, Katra Neel T-Point and Ballimaran T-Point.

The fifth begins at Ballimaran, covers the adjacent T-Point, and ends at Fatehpuri Mosque. It also includes the newly renovated Katra Bariyan and Khari Baoli Road.

Under the proposed plan, the PWD has invited tenders to appoint a private company for the complete upkeep and maintenance of the stretches for a period of three years. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 34 crore.

The plan proposes to clean approximately 55,000 sqm of roads, footpaths, vendor zones and paved areas, including the main Chandni Chowk corridor, Dewan Hall Road, Esplanade Road, HC Sen Marg, Rai Kedarnath Marg, Town Hall Chowk, Shanti Desai Marg and associated interconnected areas, said officials.

Deployment of security guards, cleaning and sweeping of roads and footpaths, maintenance of public toilets, garbage removal, washing of kerbs and railings, and upkeep of street furniture and other public assets are also part of the plan.

Officials said security guards will be deployed in eight-hour shifts at key locations, including the Lal Jain Mandir area, Town Hall, the central Chandni Chowk corridor and the Fatehpuri Mosque area.

Officials said that the company which will be awarded the work will clean the area using mechanised sweeping and jet machines, while garbage disposal vehicles will transport waste to designated MCD disposal sites.

Ride-on scrubbers will be deployed for mechanised cleaning of paved surfaces and footpaths as per operational requirements, said officials.

Supervisors will also be deployed for monitoring and redressal of daily maintenance complaints.

The work will include minor development and restoration works, such as the development of footpaths and other components of the road, rectification of deficiencies in footpaths, kerb stones and allied infrastructure, repair/restoration of sanitary installations, restoration of damaged dustbins and maintenance of water dispensers, said officials.

Cleaning and desilting of drains and connected structures, removing and transporting accumulated sludge and debris, and ensuring uninterrupted flow through the drainage system will also be carried out, said officials.

This is the first stretch in the city where motorised vehicles are banned between 9 am and 9 pm on the main Chandni Chowk market road.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also heads the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), had recently held a meeting and directed officials to restore the glory of Old Delhi.