[sustran] Connaught Place to go traffic free. Ban on vehicles starts from Feb.

[Vinay Baindur]

http://scrolltoday.com/connaught-place-go-traffic-free-ban-vehicles-starts-feb/



Connaught Place to go traffic free. Ban on vehicles starts from Feb.
By
 Sowmya Seshadri <http://scrolltoday.com/author/sowmya/>
 -
January 8, 2017
<http://scrolltoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Connaught.jpg>The
gridlock in the Connaught Place, the heart of the city and one of the most
famous shopping districts. Photo Credits: BBC

In the wake of the increase in pollution in the national capital, the
Ministry of Urban Development has passed an order to curb traffic in
Connaught Place. Situated in the heart of the city, this place is one of
the famous shopping districts. Along with the bustling pedestrians, this
place always witnesses a gridlock almost throughout the day.

The Ministry of Urban Development has decided to ban vehicles
<http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=153194> in Connaught
Place for 3 months. Starting this February, the Connaught Place will be a
vehicle free zone. Although it does not stop the cycles and electric
vehicles moving into these roads. Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of
Urban Development, passed this order in early November of 2016.

During this period, the State and Central Government will work together to
improve traffic management, parking and last mile connectivity. Shri
Venkaiah Naidu passed this order, expressing concern over poor maintenance
of the road from the airport to Connaught Place. He directed the New Delhi
Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and South MCD to undertake necessary
interventions to make the district a smart road with all necessary features.

He also stressed the need for provision of quality pedestrian pathways and
non-motorised transport infrastructure. The order is specifies that all
roads in NDMC area will become smart. The smart features include smart
poles, smart bus stops and smart parking.

The NDMC will install features like pedestrian crossings, pedestrian and
cycle pathways, CCTV cameras, LED lighting, 3D Zebra crossings, steel
furniture etc. This 3 month period will also be used to introduce and
spread awareness on electric vehicles.  This order is not only for
Connaught Place, but also for Khan Market.
Delhi has the highest level of the airborne particulate matter, PM2.5
considered most harmful to health, with 153 micrograms and tops the
polluted cities of the world.

This move is indeed very much important for the National Capital, as it is
one of the most polluted cities in the world. The state has already been
taking certain steps to reduce the air pollution and traffic congestion.
This additional step is very well welcomed by the city dwellers. This ban,
if successful, will continue and many other bustling districts of the
sub-continent will also follow this order.