Officials say lack of space a major hurdle in development
NEW DELHI: Municipal officials say there is absolutely no space for them to create and add to the existing civic infrastructure in the Tilak Nagar market. They also blame “commercial interests” as a hurdle in the redevelopment of the market.
Officials say that while the weekly markets were once a necessity, they have become a major headache for visitors and residents.
“Weekly markets usually operated on days when other shops remained closed. However, this is not the case in Tilak Nagar. Weekly markets and shops (including extended counters and hawkers) operate on the same days creating chaos. When the corporation takes action against them they meet with protests,” said a senior official South municipal corporation official.
Officials claim that most of the shopkeepers have now sub-let the area in front of their shops. Though it adds to their profits, it is a major cause of congestion in the area.
Senior officials said anti-encroachment drives have failed to decongest the area. “The shopkeepers allow hawkers to operate from outside their shops which at times means sub-letting the road, hence causing traffic jams and narrowing down the space meant for the traffic. These hawkers return to their spots soon after we remove them,” said KK Dahiya, depu- ty commissioner, West Zone, South MCD.
Apart from encroachment, the officials cite lack of land as the major problem in the re-development of the market area. There are about 1300 shops, excluding make-shift shops and the additional counters which make their way on the market roads every day.
“The congestion and high footfall makes maintaining sanitation a major issue. Further owing to shortage of land, the market has just one community garbage,” said a senior official.
Several attempts by the corporation to increase the parking sites have failed mainly due to opposition from the residents. “We had decided to develop certain parking sites to curb illegal parking and at the same time reduce traffic jams, although opposition by the residents and shopkeepers failed our attempts,” said another senior official.