Chandni Chowk warms up to idea of vehicle-free zone
NEW DELHI: Newly installed steel gates plastered with posters announcing a ban on entry of motorised vehicles between 9am to 9pm and a fine of ₹20,000 have come up at the entrance of the revamped Chandni Chowk, opposite the Red Fort. With the 1.3km stretch between Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid becoming a no-go zone for motorised vehicles, queues of rickshaw pullers line up the entrance and keep an eye out for potential customers entering the market.
Pappu, 22, who has been ferrying passengers in the area for the past six years, said there has been some improvement in earnings since motorised vehicles were barred on the stretch.
“Since cars are no longer allowed during the day, more people are hiring cycle rickshaws. The restrictions need to be implemented more strictly. Makeshift e-rickshaws need to be banned too. They clog traffic and eat into our share of customers,” said Pappu, who goes by his first name.
When HT visited the revamped stretch on Saturday, motorised vehicles such as scooters and cars were plying during the daytime. One of the two security guards on duty told HT that while they were only allowing vehicles with exemptions to pass through, some people got aggressive when they were stopped. “Many visitors including those who come for worship here, also ask us to open the gates. Sometimes they get aggressive but we try to stop them or comply with requests,” said the guard, who did not wish to named. Senior traffic police officers did not comment.
Shoppers and residents also welcomed the area becoming a vehicle-free zone.
Mohd Sadir, 38, who has a shoe shop in Ballimaran, said he was happy with the pedestrianisation and hoped that more areas will be covered soon. “We welcome this step but the area needs to be beautified beyond this stretch,” said Sadir, who lives in Ballimaran.
Rekha Mehra, a resident of Kucha Ghasi Ram, said while the main stretch has been completed, work needed to be expedited. “The pedestrianisation plan is good since vehicles would clog all the roads earlier, leaving little to no space for walking. Cars should be completely banned in the area but there is a need to move beyond the mains stretch into the streets. The core problems remain. They should have worked on the inner streets first,” said Mehra.
Nitin Panigrahi, deputy general manager, SRDC, said exemptions have already been provided to the elderly and emergency vehicles including ambulance and hearse vans. He added that plans for the introduction of e-carts for the elderly were also being considered. “Since the restrictions on vehicles, the environment has improved in terms of safety for elderly people. We may also introduce e-carts for the elderly,” said Panigrahi.
Sanjay Bhargava, president Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, said that business had improved in the area and things were expected to improve further as things fall into place. “Business has only grown with pedestrianisation. Once work on CCTV is completed and enforcement becomes stricter, things will improve further,” said Bhargava.