The Times of India 30.11.2009
MCD comes up with proposal to have dedicated lanes
NEW DELHI: In an attempt to decongest S P Mukherjee Marg the main link to Old Delhi railway station the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has come up with a proposal to have dedicated lanes for motorized and non-motorized vehicles, hawkers etc. A pedestrian plaza will also be created along the stretch. The work is expected to be completed before Commonwealth Games 2010.
The earlier plan of creating an elevated road to decongest the area had been shelved this year after it met with stiff resistance from the heritage experts. The civic agency had proposed making an elevated road from Lotian Bridge to Novelty Cinema in 2007. However, the construction of this road was disrupting heritage structures in the area.
Said an MCD official: "To decongest S P Mukherjee Marg, we have proposed segregating non-motorized vehicles like hand carts, cycle rickshaws from motorized-vehicles. Wider footpaths will be made for the convenience of pedestrians besides creating pedestrian plazas and constructing subways in the area. Junctions will be improved to ensure smoother traffic flow. Specific areas will be allotted to hawkers to prevent spill-over on the road.''
The project is expected to cost Rs 15-20 crore and work is expected to begin soon. The work will be carried out on 2.2 km stretch and starts from the ring road in the eastern end and stretches up to Pilli Kothi at the western end.
Streetscaping of this stretch will also be carried out. Improved streetlighting, better civic amenities like dustbins, public urinals will be ensured and more trees will be planted along this stretch.
Said an MCD official: "A parking lot will be created at S P Mukherjee Marg for buses, cycle rickshaws, autorickshaws, private vehicles etc. The development of S P Mukherjee Marg will be integrated with work taking place all around Shahjahanabad.'' At present there is just one road going from Novelty Cinema to Lothian Bridge which sees heavy flow of traffic with encroachment of hawkers and cycle rickshaws. The average speed on this road is 9 to 12 km.
Besides, MCD is also supposed to construct a bus plaza at Old Delhi railway station where 75 buses can be accommodated at any given point of time. An underground parking with a capacity of 800 cars will be constructed below the plaza.
The earlier plan of creating an elevated road to decongest the area had been shelved this year after it met with stiff resistance from the heritage experts. The civic agency had proposed making an elevated road from Lotian Bridge to Novelty Cinema in 2007. However, the construction of this road was disrupting heritage structures in the area.
Said an MCD official: "To decongest S P Mukherjee Marg, we have proposed segregating non-motorized vehicles like hand carts, cycle rickshaws from motorized-vehicles. Wider footpaths will be made for the convenience of pedestrians besides creating pedestrian plazas and constructing subways in the area. Junctions will be improved to ensure smoother traffic flow. Specific areas will be allotted to hawkers to prevent spill-over on the road.''
The project is expected to cost Rs 15-20 crore and work is expected to begin soon. The work will be carried out on 2.2 km stretch and starts from the ring road in the eastern end and stretches up to Pilli Kothi at the western end.
Streetscaping of this stretch will also be carried out. Improved streetlighting, better civic amenities like dustbins, public urinals will be ensured and more trees will be planted along this stretch.
Said an MCD official: "A parking lot will be created at S P Mukherjee Marg for buses, cycle rickshaws, autorickshaws, private vehicles etc. The development of S P Mukherjee Marg will be integrated with work taking place all around Shahjahanabad.'' At present there is just one road going from Novelty Cinema to Lothian Bridge which sees heavy flow of traffic with encroachment of hawkers and cycle rickshaws. The average speed on this road is 9 to 12 km.
Besides, MCD is also supposed to construct a bus plaza at Old Delhi railway station where 75 buses can be accommodated at any given point of time. An underground parking with a capacity of 800 cars will be constructed below the plaza.
