
New haat may add to traffic chaos
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) proposed ‘Mahila Haat’ that will come up on the terrace of the underground parking on Asaf Ali Road is likely to add to the existing chaos on the busy road.
The Mahila Haat will have as many as 64 stalls and a gathering space for about 500 people, along with open seating and two bandstands.
A look at the topography gives an idea about the congestion in the area: bang opposite are two hospitals — LNJP Hospital and GB Pant Hospital. Then there are several offices in the locality with a busy throughfare — Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg — nearby.
The new Civic Centre is coming up a few hundred metres away. And last, but not the least, barely a kilometer away is the New Delhi Railway Station, being revamped for commercial use too.
Though the existing underground parking has a capacity of 1,200 vehicles, it falls way short of the requirement.
Will the proposed Mahila Haat not pose a problem for traffic and parking?
“I always see several vehicles parked in the lanes and by-lanes in the area. This parking does not cater to existing demand, how will it meet the new requirement,” asks a traffic official from the area.
A lot will also depend on whether the entry and exit for the proposed facility are different from the existing entry and exit points for the underground parking, he said.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S.N. Shrivastava said, “We are not aware about any such plans, we have not received any communication regarding traffic management in the area with regard to it (the proposed Mahila Haat).”
Mayor Arti Mehra, however, said, “There is no need to make new traffic circulation plan as the new facility is coming up on the existing infrastructure.”
“And although we have not yet conducted a study to ascertain the exact number of visitors, parking too should not be a problem, as this will be on the terrace of the existing parking facility,” Mehra told the Hindustan Times.

Delhiwale: Stories on the move

Farmers at Singhu border allege bid to infiltrate, spark violence

Only 35% health care workers in Delhi's Shahdara district have got jab so far

Air quality panel ropes in agencies to develop tool to read nature of emissions

Deadline extended by nine months for phase 1 of Rani Khera business park project

Delhi: Six samples from zoo test negative for avian flu

Delhi gets colder: Temperature to fall further from Sunday, IMD predicts

‘Presumption of innocence’ should not be destroyed, court says while hearing riots case

Only 35% health care workers in Shahdara district have got Covid jab so far, lowest in Delhi

Three held for running fake call centre, duping job aspirants of money

Airspace restrictions in place till R-Day

Deadline extended by nine months for phase 1 of Rani Khera business park project

Commercial vehicle owners duped of cash by racketeers who gave them forged entry stickers

Fire breaks out at an automobile service centre in Delhi's Uttam Nagar area
