NEW DELHI: To ensure timely help to the residents and traders of Chandni Chowk in the time of emergency, lieutenant governor V K Saxena said on Wednesday that fire tenders and ambulances would be stationed at strategic locations in the Walled City before Diwali. In a meeting with the representatives of residents’ welfare associations, labourers’ body and traders’ associations, Saxena, who visited the area with officials from various departments, said the fire department had already initiated an exercise to identify the vulnerable areas in the congested lanes and bylanes and possible locations to deploy emergency vehicles. Ideas were exchanged on various problems plaguing the heritage market and residential pockets, and on the amenities that could be improved to facilitate smooth conduct of trade and make shopping a pleasing experience. Residents and traders raised several issues, including the restrictions on movement of vehicles, which, they said, were not only affecting their daily businesses, but were also causing hardship to people, especially elderly, women and children residing in the area. They also complained about overhanging electric wires, which often cause fires, and sought the LG’s intervention to put them underground. Saxena instructed officials to identify and develop one katra – a cluster of houses and shops -as a pilot and replicate the model in other katras in Chandni Chowk. The redevelopment of the katra envisages facade improvement, removal of overhanging electric wires, repair of footpaths and drainage, and repair and maintenance of streetlights, among others. According to officials, the heritage market has over 60 katras with thousands of shops that attract lakhs of people every day. Nearly 60,000 people also reside in the narrow bylanes of Chandni Chowk. Accompanied by chief secretary Naresh Kumar, Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s special secretary, Ashwini Kumar, and other senior bureaucrats and officials, Saxena took a round of the Chandni Chowk market from the iconic Town Hall to Katra Neel and back to Red Fort, and interacted with several traders and visitors. He also visited the historic Ghalib Ki Haveli in Gali Qasim Jaan, Ballimaran.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/emergency-vehicles-in-walled-city-before-diwali-delhi-lg-v-k-saxena/articleshow/94846826.cms