CP, Khan Market set to turn into ‘no-vehicle’ zones

The Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday asked the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to convert Connaught Place and Khan Market as “no-vehicle” zones while reviewing the progress of implementation of smart city plans in the NDMC area.

The minister also urged the civic body to ensure full implementation of the smart city plan by June 2018. An estimated investment of Rs 1,900 crore has been approved for the ambitious plan, according to the agency.

Mr Naidu expressed concern over air pollution and traffic congestion and asked the NDMC to convert Connaught Place and Khan Market into “no-vehicle” zones through measures like traffic management, parking and last mile connectivity, the civic body said.

Among other suggestions, the Union minister also mooted setting up of digital display screens at all major locations to provide information on traffic flows including jams, suggested traffic diversions, weather, pollution and other public information.

Highlighting poor maintenance of road from airport to Connaught Place, he directed the local civic bodies to make the stretch a “smart road” with all necessary features like pathways and landscaping. So far, smart city-linked projects worth Rs 650 crore are under implementation, NDMC chairman Naresh Kumar said. He added that work on the remaining projects would start in the next few months.

Mr Kumar said about 25 projects will be completed by June next year, including conversion of all 444 class rooms in NDMC areas into smart ones, digital information panels/kiosks at prominent places with high speed Internet, provision of 60 water ATMs at public places, 59 open gyms and Charkha Museum at Connaught Place.