Parking lot at Red Fort adds to woes of visitors

More than six months after the parking lot next to the Red Fort was unveiled, it is proving to be too long a walk for the visitors to the World Heritage Site, especially in the increasing summer heat.

More than six months after the parking lot next to the Red Fort was unveiled, it is proving to be too long a walk for the visitors to the World Heritage Site, especially in the increasing summer heat.

HT Image

After years of not having a dedicated parking lot, a large parking lot was opened ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010 on the southern side of the monument with entry from the Nishad Raj Marg. After alighting at the parking site, the visitors have to walk all the way to the ticket window and the main entrance opposite the Chandni Chowk main road.

This is almost a kilometre walk, which is proving a problem especially for children, elderly and the physically disabled persons. The increasing mercury is only adding to the woes of the tourists.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was supposed to start a free shuttle service from the parking simultaneously when it was opened for public around the time of the Games. Another option was to allow the visitors in from the Delhi Gate side entry, which is at a stone's throw away from the parking lot.

"To start with, we would need a ticket window at that end. Nothing is being planned on those lines now."

He added, "The shuttle service is in the pipeline. The proposal has been approved in principle. The modalities are to be worked out."

But the task does not seem to be as easy as it sounds. Said another senior official, "We had planned the shuttle service along with the opening of the parking. But police had kept it on hold during the Games in view of the security issues."

"Police had certain objections earlier. We are planning to write to the higher authorities again," the official said.