New traffic old whine

After being in the pipeline for almost a decade, the ambitious redevelopment plan of 360-year-old Chandni Chowk has run into rough weather with the Delhi Traffic police raising objections to the MCD's traffic plan.

After being in the pipeline for almost a decade, the ambitious redevelopment plan of 360-year-old Chandni Chowk has run into rough weather with the Delhi Traffic police raising objections to the MCD's traffic plan.

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The consultant appointed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had prepared a detailed plan, including the decongestion plan, wherein the entire stretch from Chandni Chowk to Fatehpuri Masjid was to be made one-way. The traffic police shot down the plan.

"The plan is not workable. We told them (MCD) about it during our meeting held last week. If the Chandni Chowk stretch is made one-way, a lot of residents will be hassled. Even for travelling short distances they will have to take long detours," said Ajay Chadha, special CP (traffic).

With the redevelopment plan on the backburner for almost a decade, earlier studies were slowly becoming redundant. This could mean that a number of new studies might have to be carried out.

"The traffic volume has changed and increased in the last three years, when the traffic survey was last carried out. We are now planning to conduct a new study in consultation with the Central Road and Research Institute," said a team member of the consultant who has drafted the Chandni Chowk plan.

But the civic body claimed all the clearances have been obtained from various agencies including the Delhi Urban Arts Corporation and Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (planning and engineering) Centre.

According to the MCD, during the Games period the traffic

situation was under control with no traffic jams even as both the stretches were operational.

Citing this as the example, the traffic police have said there was no need to shut one of the lanes for vehicular traffic.

"The traffic police have to enforce the plan so their permission is a must,” said a senior MCD official.

"We will be carrying out the redevelopment work in phases. We have already started some work in Daryaganj," said MCD commissioner KS Mehra.