Deadline 6 months away, Chandni Chowk revamp plan still on paper

The plan of the Chandni Chowk redevelopment project was approved in October with a nod from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC). But there is no trace of any work happening on the ground. The deadline is June 2010.

The plan of the Chandni Chowk redevelopment project was approved in October with a nod from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC). But there is no trace of any work happening on the ground. The deadline is June 2010.

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The high-powered standing committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is now worried.

It has decided to hold a ‘short notice’ meeting with the officials concerned on Wednesday, seeking a detailed status report on the project.

The redevelopment plan was initially tabled eight years ago.

“While the MCD’s city zone officials, who are directly in charge of the project, have hired consultants and drawn a blue print, they have failed to implement any work so far,” said Ram Kishan Singhal, chairman of the MCD’s standing committee.

“They have been hiring consultants for each and every part of the redevelopment project. While many areas in the Walled City have been dug up in the name of redevelopment, no work is visible yet,” he added.

Singhal added that the standing committee has already got in touch with the officials concerned and has asked for details of their ‘plan of action’.

“The two most essential parts of the redevelopment project are the traffic decongestion plan and restoration of all heritage structures in the Walled City. These must be completed before the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

However, the city zone officials claimed that all initial delays have been overcome and work has already begun on the 'old city traffic decongestion plan'.