The Economic Times                 02.01.2014 

NDMC opens first cafeteria at Connaught Place subway

NEW DELHI: To improve the condition of subways, the New Delhi Municipal Council opened the first of six cafeterias in one of the six underground subways in Connaught Place.

NDMC proposes to open cafeterias in the other five subways soon.

The proposal to rent out spaces in subways to coffee shops or bakeries by the NDMC in the city's most busy shopping hub was taken up in July.

The cafeteria in the Janpath-Palika Bazar crossing was inaugurated by NDMC chairman Jalaj Srivastava.

It is believed that commercial activity inside the subway would ensure their proper maintenance and people, in particular women would feel confident and safe to use them.

"The NDMC will ensure that these subways remain user friendly. The increased usage of the subways by people will keep away drug addicts who sometimes frequent them," Srivastava said.

"People should use these subways to cross the otherwise busy roads of Connaught Place," the chairman said.

The subway venture is subject to satisfactory performance in the next three months, he said.

The opening of the cafeteria coincides with the centenary celebrations of the civic agency.