Another subway at CP, more chaos

Visitors to Connaught Place will see more chaos in the coming days as the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has received permission to go ahead with construction of the fifth subway on the outer circle.

Visitors to Connaught Place will see more chaos in the coming days as the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has received permission to go ahead with construction of the fifth subway on the outer circle.

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Ever since the civic agency started work on subways in the outer circle and refurbishing of utilities in the middle circle from January, there have been regular traffic problems, especially during peak hours.

Traders claimed that the ongoing work has taken away all the parking area and have led to enormous traffic jams. They have also reported loss in business in the prime commercial district.

The NDMC has already started work on four subways, two each at Barakhamba and Panchkuian Road. It was given permission to take up the work on the fifth subway at the junction of Chelmsford Road with the outer circle earlier in March first week.

“The NDMC was asked to erect temporary barricades as the traffic police wanted trial runs for the stretch,” sources said adding, “the permission was given in mid-March”.

Atul Bhargava of New Delhi Traders' Association said, “They (the NDMC) should not have taken up construction for new subway. Business has already suffered and there would be more chaos.” However, the civic body officials maintain that they have not started the work “in right earnest” as they wanted to be “sure of the speed and the progress of other subways”.