‘Car-free Connaught Place is not possible’

New Delhi Traders Association is against the proposal to make CP a ‘car free zone’.

nesses will be affected by such a move by the government.”

“Nobody would like to walk a stretch of two km during summer. We also have banks, jewellery shops and other expensive shops in the area and people would not like to walk or take a public transport carrying such expensive items with them,” Bhargava added.

The NDTA has also raised questions about the parking space available with the NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) for facilitating parking for all visitors who come to Connaught Place.

NDMC officials, however, say that they are ready with the plan, but hurdles coming from two major stakeholders are holding them back from implementing the scheme. “We would like to bring all the stakeholders to a common platform and work out a feasible route, only after which this will be put into force. We would not like to force it upon anybody, but want it to be implemented peacefully,” a spokesperson of the NDMC told The Sunday Guardian.

Asked when the plan is likely to be implemented, the spokesperson said, “We are not rushing; once we have all the stakeholders on board, we will execute the plan.”

The proposal to make Connaught Place a car free zone was initiated by the Ministry of Urban Development as part of its Smart City project. According to a senior official in the NDMC, Connaught Place would be developed into a cultural hub where the NDMC, along with different states and the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) would be holding cultural programmes at the Central Park from time to time. According to the plan, the NDMC is also in talks with the different embassies to hold their National Days at the Central Park in CP.