Pedestrianisation trial ends with plogging drive
NEW DELHI: The final day of the five-day-long pedestrianisation trial at Lal Quarter market of east Delhi’s Krishna Nagar concluded with a plogging drive on Friday. Plogging is a combination of jogging and picking up of litter. Senior officials at the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) said the exercise, called “Fit Delhi, Green Delhi” saw the participation of 75 persons, most of whom were from the nearby residents’ welfare associations (RWAS) and market traders’ associations (MTAS).
“About 10-15 kilograms of waste, including polythene, wrappers of snacks and packaging material, was collected. It will be sent to the Ghazipur Waste-toenergy (WTE) plant to be incinerated,” said Aman Rajput, EDMC assistant commissioner and nodal officer of the pedestrianisation project.
The trial, which began on October 7, was initiated following the orders of the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to decongest Delhi. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation(ndmc) has already made streets at Karol Bagh and Kamla Nagar markets, falling under its jurisdiction, pedestrian-only. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has also taken a similar initiative at Lajpat Nagar market.
During the pedestrianisation drive at Lal Quarter market, the EDMC banned vehicles plying on the main road from Chhachi Building (also called Hanuman Chowk) to Vijay Chowk, a stretch of about one kilometre. In the last few months, soft encroachments such as extra steps or platforms created by shopkeepers have also been removed. Ornamental street lights, benches and flower pots have also been installed.
“This was a trial run. But we have submitted to the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to make pedestrianisation a permanent feature here from November 15,” Rajput said.