Only rickshaws & e-rickshaws to be allowed in Walled City

NEW DELHI: Chandni Chowk would soon become the first locality in the national capital where only pedestrians, cycle rickshaws and e-rickshaws will be allowed between 9 am and 9 pm every day, according to an official.

The decision was taken at a governing body meeting of the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC) on Monday. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant- Governor Anil Baijal. The UTTIPEC has approved the proposal for pedestrianisation of Chandni Chowk, the official said However, the timeline for the implementation of the move is yet to be decided as minutes of the meeting have not come yet, he said.

It would be the first locality in the national capital where motorised vehicles will be banned between 9 am and 9 pm every day, an official said.

He said vehicular traffic would only be allowed from 9 pm to 9 am in the area, adding emergency vehicles such as fire tenders and ambulances would be allowed. According to UTTIPEC, a symmetrical section is proposed, considering its historical values, and for the movement of fire tenders and emergency vehicles.

"Under the redevelopment plan of Chandni Chowk, it was also decided to increase the central verge from 2 metres to 3.5 metres with 5.5 metres of carriage way on both sides," the official said. The Delhi government's PWD has been asked to execute the redevelopment plan of the area. All infrastructure projects in the national capital are approved by UTTIPEC headed by the LG.