Measures on to boost last-mile connectivity in CP

The Council officials claim that apart from making the area “vehicle-free”, several measures will be taken to ensure the “last mile connectivity” in and around Connaught Place area. 

“The agency, with an aim to make the area congestion-free is working on a foolproof plan and once executed, impact of the smart city development will be reflected. The move will not only make the area “no vehicle zone” but will also help in traffic regulation and facilitation in pedestrian movement with availability of various means of public transport including battery-fitted rickshaws that will be made available in every nook and corner,” said an official.

As entry of cars and buses will be banned in middle and inner circles, focus will be on efficient parking management system. To execute the plan, the Council has decided to allow parking in its three major parking lots located at Shivaji Stadium, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Palika parking which have space to accommodate 3,172 vehicles at one point of time. As per the plan, regular visitors will be allowed to park their vehicles at Baba Kharag Singh Marg parking lot while short-term visitors will be asked to park at Shivaji Stadium’s parking lot and only emergency vehicles will be allowed to station in Palika parking. The Council, in order to ensure hassle-free rides from these lots, will make arrangements for battery-operated vehicles, cycles and other means.

“To ensure the last mile connectivity in entire CP area and adjacent places from the operational parking lots, free public transport will be made available for all under the “park and ride” facility. 

Small parking lots, which are located at middle and inner circles will be opened for specific reasons with consent of the law enforcement agency. Buildings/business houses and institutions located on the middle circle will be allowed to take their vehicle inside only when parking facility is available in their own premises. With this, visitors can book the space from anywhere in the city through the NDMC app within a given period of time. 

The law enforcement agency will help in day-to-day execution of the plan,” said an official not wishing to be named.

For hassle-free traffic management, the Council has been planning to make a signal-free traffic movement in outer as well as the middle circle. Anticipating an increase in traffic on the outer circle due to restrictions of vehicular entry on two other roads, the civic body is also mulling options to divert routes of buses. 

“To reduce the traffic load on outer circle, the only fully operational carriageway, assistance from DTC will be sought. If a heavy vehicle/bus has to ply between Ashoka Road and ITO via CP, the new route is likely to be via Jaisingh Road, Tolstoy Marg, Firozshah Road/Kasturba Gandhi Road. Vehicles coming from Panchkuian Road and Minto Road will not be allowed to ply via CP as they can take outer (via Barakhamba) route too. Similarly, buses coming from New Delhi Railway station and going towards Mehrauli area can avoid entering CP as they can pass through Minto Road, Kamla Market, Ajmeri Gate and Delhi Gate to reach its destination,” added the official.

As far as the circulation part is concerned, the civic body is planning to set up more stands/terminals for rickshaws, cycles and other possible means. 

The additional stands may come up at Shivaji Stadium, Tilak Bridge railway station, Patel Chowk, Janpath, Rajiv Chowk and Barakhamba Metro stations. 

“A total of 2 lakh daily visitors mainly traders, office-goers and other staff visit the area while more than 5 lakh outside visitors come daily. Hence maintaining a circulation will be the key part of the plan which will be on a trail basis for three months. Here, a total five to six agencies — UD ministry, NDMC, DUAC Traders’ body, traffic department and the DTC — will collectively ensure the execution,” the official further stated.