NEW DELHI: Nineteen months after the redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue and Rajpath was launched – necessitating declaring the popular area out of bounds for the public – the revamped stretched will be thrown open to people on Friday (September 9). This will be a day after the stretch is inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When people stream into the area this weekend, they will discover several new facilities and be subjected to some restrictions as well. Vendors, including the ubiquitous ice-cream carts, will be allowed only at the designated vending zones along the lawns and parking for 1,117 cars and 35 buses will be available. However, no picnic like affairs will be allowed on the lawns between Rajpath and the refurbished canals. Officials said visitors will be allowed to do so only in the sections behind the canals where children can also play. Walking on the lawns will not be prohibited but people will be discouraged from doing so and asked to use only the pathways. “The boating services at the two canals —behind Krishi Bhawan and the newly-built Vanijya Bhawan — will be resumed soon. “We are restoring all facilities that people enjoyed and also adding more,” said an official. On the inauguration day, visitors won’t be allowed on the stretch from India Gate to the Man Singh Road crossing. From Friday, however, the entire stretch will be opened. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the stretch and unveil a statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose after sunset. There will be strong police deployment for a month because footfalls are likely to be high after the stretch is opened. The CPWD has installed 300 advanced CCTV cameras for live monitoring and artificial intelligence algorithms will be used for preventive security. All visitors going to India Gate and the Netaji statue will be subjected to a security check. Officials said they do not want any loss of livelihood for people who have been carrying on their small businesses around India Gate. “Vendors and ice-cream shops will be allowed at five vending zones that can accommodate around 200 such activities. We will see how things take shape and then do the needful. Sixteen kiosks on both sides of India Gate have been allotted to state governments to put up their stalls. Most of these will be selling state-specific food items,” said an official. Cars will be allowed to be parked without a charge initially but later NDMC will be managing the parking lots and collect a fee. Officials said that maintaining the entire area will be a challenge and they will appeal to people to observe cleanliness. “We also welcome organisations that want to contribute in creating awareness among the visitors. Maintaining the area has to be a people’s initiative,” said an official. The redevelopment work had started in February 2021. The project was delayed due to several reasons, including Covid-19, prolonged rain that year and issues with the irrigation system. Officials said they are now working on a plan to minimise the time taken for preparing for the Republic Day celebrations and to ensure that the lawns aren’t damaged during such preparations. By 2024, setting up the dais for the President and dignitaries and arrangements for the public will be done with pre-fabricated modules.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/vending-zones-parking-and-pathways-for-visitors/articleshow/93975680.cms
