Palika makeover nears completion

Palika Bazaar - the hub of bargain shopping in the heart of the Capital - is nearing the end of its makeover. HT reports.

Palika Bazaar - the hub of bargain shopping in the heart of the Capital - is nearing the end of its makeover.

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With the installation of escalators, the most well-known shopping centre in Connaught Place will get a new look within a few weeks. For months now, the market has been waiting for escalators - the last requisite in the completion of the project.

However, even though the escalators have finally arrived, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will now be putting up only two escalators, as against the initial plan of installing four escalators.

The installation work will take more than 15 days to be completed. "They (the escalators) will be placed at Gate Number 1 for the benefit of pedestrians, especially senior citizens," said a senior NDMC official.

Earlier, the other two escalators were supposed to be placed at Palika Bazaar's Central Hall to replace the spiral staircase there. But the NDMC has now revamped the staircase and decided not to install escalators.

The Palika Bazaar, consisting of 400 shops, was inaugurated in 1979.

The complex was to be renovated before the Commonwealth Games but the NDMC, currently facing charges of financial bungling, could not complete the project on time.

The contract for developing the area was given to Five-M Energy under mechanical, electrical and fire safety heads.