Indian Express 15.04.2010
At Khan Market, new pavements prove to be a touch too slippery
Hamari Jamatia Tags : civic, Khan Market Posted: Thursday , Apr 15, 2010 at 0150 hrs
New delhi: The new granite pavements in Khan Market are proving to be a little too smooth, and slippery, for shoppers’ comfort.New pavements are being laid and the parking lot is being levelled at the South Delhi market at present. Around 30 feet of shiny granite slabs have replaced the older Kota stone pavements in the market. While they look sleeker, their slippery nature has not gone down well with many shoppers.
According to shopkeepers, there have been several complaints about shoppers slipping and falling while walking on the market’s pavements of late.
“It is very slippery right now and there is always the chance of someone falling, especially ladies wearing high heels, senior citizens, children and those in a hurry,” a shopkeeper said.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), which has taken up the work of renovating the market, is putting up granite pavements in Connaught Place as well, and officials said the move has been well received so far in CP.
Officials reasoned that the granite pavements at Khan Market are more slippery, compared to similar footpaths at CP, because a lot of water flow on to them from the fruit shops and flower corners near them. Another concern is that while the pavements in Connaught Place are enclosed, Khan Market has open pavements: several shopkeepers voiced concern that if this state of affairs continue, the pavements will get more slippery during the monsoons.
Sanjiv Mehra, the president of Khan Market Traders’ Association, said the shopkeepers had opposed the idea, due to their slippery nature, when NDMC had initially proposed granite for the pavements. “But we were told that granite lasts longer and won’t need to be changed often,” Mehra said. He said the surface will become more rough, and thereby less slippery, after regular use for three or four months.
The NDMC is at present working on phase one of the Khan Market redevelopment project. It includes laying the pavements, lowering the level of roads inside the market and lowering of roads outside the market. The parking lot will also see repair work and leveling, though there will be no augmentation of services. The second phase will include putting new electrical ducts and changing the sewerage of the area.
