NEW DELHI: It was supposed to showcase an improved version of a historical boulevard, but even the revamped parts of Chandni Chowk are now crumbling even before the second phase of its redevelopment has begun. On Wednesday TOI visited the old Delhi stretch to find unchecked movement of motorised vehicles on what is supposed to be a pedestrian passage, beggars sleeping on the central verge, clothes hanging on the greenery fences and the rest of the space overrun by cycle rickshaws.The locals claimed that the boom barriers were not being manned because of which motorised vehicles entered the restricted length. “We warn some of the vehicle owners who drive into the restricted stretch about the penalties, but we cannot stop them. Some listen to us and turn back. But many others continue driving,” said Sachin, a Civil Defence volunteer posted near Fountain Road, which merges with the Chandni Chowk road.TOI indeed found that the boom barriers were up and unmanned. A trader complained, “The Civil Defence officers and police personnel work randomly. Even when present, they just stand around barricades. What is the point of having spent so much money on the barriers when there’s nobody to manage them?”According to PWD officials, managing the boom barriers is the responsibility of police and Civil Defence. An official said, “We have written to Delhi government and to Delhi Police to take control of the boom barriers. PWD is only the constructing agency. We build and hand them over. We cannot close the roads ourselves.”A joint inspection was conducted ON Wednesday by the committee formed r by lieutenant governor VK Saxena after the fire at Bhagirath Palace. At a meeting headed by Ankita Mishra, district magistrate of City Sadar Paharganj, officials of Delhi Fire Service, PWD and local traders discussed the fire safety arrangements. A fire official said, “Lack of water supply has been a problem even after the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk. When the fire broke out at Bhagirath Palace, we took a lot of time to extinguish it because we could not replenish the water once our fire tenders exhausted what they carried.”Sanjay Bhargava, president, Sarv Vyapar Mandal, a traders’ association, said that despite a tank capable of holding seven lakh litres of water being constructed along with hydrants at the entrance of each narrow lane, nothing has become operational. “This was part of the first phase of the locality’s redevelopment. But they are yet to install motors and other mechanical requirements to make them operational.”Bhargava also pointed out how the green spaces were deteriorating with homeless people occupying them. “You can see the entire lane from Diwan Hall Road to Bhagirath Palace occupied by hawkers. Only 400 rickshaws are licensed to ply in the area, but there are at least 1,200,” said Bhargava.MCD officials insisted they were doing regular cleaning in the area and also keeping a check on rickshaws.According to officials the second phase of the redevelopment is still in the planning stage in the absence of court pressure, which hastened the Phase I work. Phase II would consider the conservation of heritage structures as per original material and construction techniques and structural retrofitting of old buildings.Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general, Confederation of All India Traders and member of the LG’s committee, said, “Though this committee has nothing to do with the Chandni Chowk redevelopment, during the fire at Bhagirath Palace, the fire hydrants were not working and that is why the decorative bollards had to be broken to allow fire engines to enter the lanes.”
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/revamped-chandni-chowk-losing-sheen-as-delhi-cant-mend-its-ways/articleshow/96407532.cms
