The Indian Express 31.12.2013
NDMC inaugurates redeveloped CP
The redevelopment of Connaught Place — the New Delhi Municipal Council's most ambitious project — seems to have become a low-key affair as the council reportedly did not ask invitees to attend the inauguration. Those invited included Council members and other dignitaries.
However, Urban Development Minister Manish Sisodia inaugurated the project and singer Kailash Kher performed during the function held in Central Park, Connaught Place. Officials said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was to inaugurate the project, but could not attend due to illness.
Sisodia congratulated officials involved in the redevelopment of Connaught Place. "The project has been completed after delays, but I am happy with the outcome," he said.
While officials maintained that the ceremony was for the CP redevelopment project, the invites mention only the NDMC's centenary celebration and the Connaught Place festival, which began on December 23.
Officials also said the omission was deliberate, citing some incomplete tasks in the redevelopment project.
The Council meeting that was scheduled for December 31 has been postponed as the CM is unwell. "In the first meeting, the new members both from AAP, including the CM, will take oath of membership. The council meeting will be an important one as the new CM will define how the policies will work in NDMC," the official said.
In 1913, Imperial Delhi Committee was constituted that gave way to Raisina Municipal Committee in 1916. In 1932, New Delhi Municipal Committee was formed and in 1994, the present day Council was formed.
The Council had delegated the task of re-launch of CP redevelopment project to New Delhi Traders' Association, which sent invites to Sisodia.
NDMC plans a wi-fi enabled Central Delhi
Everyone in Central Delhi area — administered by NDMC — will soon be able to avail of a hi-speed, stable internet connection with the municipal body promising to bring the 42.7 square kilometres area under a single wi-fi connection.
The project will be undertaken on a pilot basis at Satya Marg and Madhu Limaye Marg. It will be expanded to whole area eventually.
To this effect, the New Delhi Municipal Council will be issuing tenders for bidding by an 'experienced' vendor with technology in fields of 2G, 3G or 4G. Officials said the date of submission of the documents is January 17, 2014.
According to the council's director of projects, O P Mishra, the step will make the NDMC one of Delhi's most forward-looking civic bodies in terms of technology.
"New Delhi has been identified as the leader in e-governance in a recent study conducted by the government. We want to increase the ease with which people communicate with the rest of the world, and share availability of information on business and tourism. The project will put NDMC on the world map prominently," Mishra said.
Prominent areas in Central Delhi that fall under the 42.7 sqkm administered by NDMC include Rashtrapati Bhavan, Prime Minister's Office and residence, offices of the Central government, foreign missions and residences of ministers and diplomats. The area also included the private residences of influential people in the country.
However, the Council has put up a condition in the tenders where the vendor has to secure the approval of sensitive ministries and offices to enable its wi-fi. "We have said whosoever will become a vendor will have to obtain a no-objection certificate for enabling its services in the area," an official said.
The official said NDMC will, in return, provide space to the vendor to put its towers and kiosks that will make available a secure internet connection for those who would want to use it. "We have asked them (the vendors) to keep the prices lower than the prevailing rates. More importantly, the entire NDMC area will be made a wi-fi zone, where internet access will not be a problem for those who want to use it ," the official said.
