Lajpat Market’s plan to be replicated soon
NEWDELHI: After implementing its parking area management plan in Lajpat Nagar market, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) will help the north civic body and the market association in replicating it at the Karol Bagh market.
Haphazard parking and encroachment are major challenges in Karol Bagh. Traders have been demanding parking facilities. “There are no multi-level parking lots. Cars are parked on main roads. The court has also directed government agencies to take necessary steps to decongest the area,” Murli Mani, president, Karol Bagh vyapar Mandal, said.
At Lajpat Nagar market, the SDMC, with participation of the Traders’ Association of Lajpat Nagar (TALN), has created designated parking spaces, installed CCTVS and also put in place the system of parking vehicles at 45 degrees for utilisation of space.
Prem Shankar Jha, deputy commissioner, remunerative project cell, SDMC, said it was a community-led programme. It is being implemented with help traffic police. He said that Lajpat Nagar was being developed as a model for other markets. “In terms of parking mess and congestion, Karol Bagh is similar to Lajpat Nagar. So we are helping the market association and the north civic body to implement it in there,” he said.
The Supreme Court appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority had also praised the efforts of the SDMC in its report.
“Parking lots are demarcated on ground, CCTVS have been installed, free service of e-rickshaw services from Metro stations has been given, 100% computerised operations are being used using handheld devices, which have helped to address over-charging and corruption,” the report said.
Sanjeev Madan, president, TALN, said Lajpat Nagar was becoming a popular model. “The market association of Karol Bagh approached us some days back to understand our model,” he said.
Ashwani Marwah, joint secretary, TALN, said 63 CCTVS have been installed and 12 e-rickshaws have been put in service. He added 70% of work is complete and 700 cars can be parked. “Demarcation work is left only at few places. It will be completed soon. Another plot has been identified where around 500 cars can be parked. The requirement is for 1,200 cars,” he said