Leaders wake up to Old Delhi rot after HT report

The day Hindustan Times highlighted how Shahjahanabad or the Walled City was still a picture of dismay, Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashok Kumar Walia visited the area to personally assess the problem of hanging wires and parking woes.

The day Hindustan Times highlighted how Shahjahanabad or the Walled City was still a picture of dismay, Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashok Kumar Walia visited the area to personally assess the problem of hanging wires and parking woes.

HT Image

The minister directed the agencies concerned to replace loose wires with underground cables on a war footing and complete the project before the Commonwealth Games in October. Walia said an amount of Rs 4.5 crore has already been approved for the project.

"The area has been neglected for a long time. We want some improvement to be done. Replacement of loosely hanging wires with underground cables will start soon along Netaji Subhash Marg and Ansari Road.”

In the first of a three part series, on Wednesday, HT reported how the government is brushing up New Delhi for the Games while the old city, a historical hotspot, has been completely ignored.

Kapil Sibal, member of parliament from Chandni Chowk constituency, has also called a meeting with traders from his area on Thursday to work out a plan to solve issues plaguing his constituency.

Walia also visited Daryaganj and Ramlila Maidan to take stock of the parking problem. He also visited the site where an underground multi-storied parking lot for 2,000 cars has been proposed.

Walia also directed the UD officials to explore the possibility of constructing parking lots near Ghata Masjid, Mahavir Vatika, Purdah Bagh and Ramlila Maidan to solve parking woes in Shahjahanabad.