PWD takes over project 'facelift Chandni Chowk' from civic body
18 April 2013 8:08 AM IST
The earlier plans for the restoration of Chandni Chowk could not take place due to political loggerheads that led to the delay in the developmental work.The Public Works Department (PWD) has taken over the responsibility from the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). It intends to improve the look and facilities in the historic area (Shahjahanabad).
PWD minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said, 'The idea behind the exercise is to restore Chandni Chowk, which was designed as a ceremonial axis, which regularly saw processions of nobles and courtiers, in its glorious past. It was built in the 1650s by Jahanara Begum and originally housed about 1,560 shops and porticos. The street was 40-m wide, 1,520-m long and through its centre flowed the Paradise Canal.'
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has given approval to PWD for Chandni Chowk's redevelopment and has asked the ministry to finish the works as soon as possible.
Chauhan said, 'The actual work on this is expected to start early September and the deadline has been kept for June 2014 so that the work is completed before the onset of monsoons. The entire work will be done in phased manner. '
According to him, the 3-m footpath with iron rails on both sides will be constructed so that no one could park their car on the footpath. Only pedestrians could walk on the concrete pavements. The parking arrangement will be made to accommodate around 5,000 vehicles under different names such as Bagh Diwar parking, Church Mission, Dangal Maidan, Queens Park, among others.
There will be two parts of the project that would cover a length of nearly 1.4 km on the main road passing through Chandni Chowk. 'We would be taking up relaying of all the electrical wires and poles in the area. The wires hanging in bunches from the poles not only look ugly, they also pose a threat to passersby and residents,' Chauhan said.
PWD would construct a utility duct measuring about six feet by six feet and the power distribution company, BSES, would be taking the cables underground. The lamp-posts, streetlights and signages would be changed and the new ones would be installed to make the area attractive to locals as well as foreign tourists, he added.
This project will play an important role in improving the aesthetics of historic Chandni Chowk.
As per the plan, 11 transformers would be converted into package sub station, and 33 km low tension cables, 500m high-tension cables, 144 feeder pillars and 135 km service lines will be also installed in the Chandni Chowk area.
PWD minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said, 'The idea behind the exercise is to restore Chandni Chowk, which was designed as a ceremonial axis, which regularly saw processions of nobles and courtiers, in its glorious past. It was built in the 1650s by Jahanara Begum and originally housed about 1,560 shops and porticos. The street was 40-m wide, 1,520-m long and through its centre flowed the Paradise Canal.'
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has given approval to PWD for Chandni Chowk's redevelopment and has asked the ministry to finish the works as soon as possible.
Chauhan said, 'The actual work on this is expected to start early September and the deadline has been kept for June 2014 so that the work is completed before the onset of monsoons. The entire work will be done in phased manner. '
According to him, the 3-m footpath with iron rails on both sides will be constructed so that no one could park their car on the footpath. Only pedestrians could walk on the concrete pavements. The parking arrangement will be made to accommodate around 5,000 vehicles under different names such as Bagh Diwar parking, Church Mission, Dangal Maidan, Queens Park, among others.
There will be two parts of the project that would cover a length of nearly 1.4 km on the main road passing through Chandni Chowk. 'We would be taking up relaying of all the electrical wires and poles in the area. The wires hanging in bunches from the poles not only look ugly, they also pose a threat to passersby and residents,' Chauhan said.
PWD would construct a utility duct measuring about six feet by six feet and the power distribution company, BSES, would be taking the cables underground. The lamp-posts, streetlights and signages would be changed and the new ones would be installed to make the area attractive to locals as well as foreign tourists, he added.
This project will play an important role in improving the aesthetics of historic Chandni Chowk.
As per the plan, 11 transformers would be converted into package sub station, and 33 km low tension cables, 500m high-tension cables, 144 feeder pillars and 135 km service lines will be also installed in the Chandni Chowk area.
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