Only pedestrians in Chandni Chowk

Upbeat over success of the odd-even car rationing scheme, the AAP government plans to experiment with a pedestrianisation scheme in Chandni Chowk to combat pollution and congestion problems.

The scheme, on the lines of recently-concluded odd-even traffic restrictions, will be implemented between May 22 and 25 between 9 am and 9 pm in a three-km area from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid. Only non-motorised vehicles and pedestrians will be allowed in the lanes of Chandni Chowk area between 9 am and 9 pm during the scheme.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of different agencies, including Shahjahanabad Development Board, PWD and traffic police with city PWD minister Satyendar Jain on Friday. Sources said it was decided during the meeting that the scheme will be implemented on an experimental basis and during the period, loading and offloading of goods-carrying vehicles will be allowed between 8 pm and 8 am.

The Delhi high court on Thursday, hearing a matter on the development of Shahjahanabad area, had reportedly asked the Delhi government why it was not experimenting with the imposition of pedestrians-only rule on the lines of the odd-even scheme. The court had made the comments while hearing the petition on a dispute arising by removing piyaos (water taps) from the religious places in Chandni Chowk by the civic authorities. According to the proposed plan prepared in 2008, a scheme was prepared only to allow only non-motorised vehicles and pedestrians and the agencies headed by L-G Najeeb Jung had to implement it by March 2017.