The Times of India 09.12.2010
NDMC plans Khan Market revamp
Geeta Gupta Tags : New Delhi Municipal Council, Better civic infrastructure of Khan market Posted: Thu Dec 09 2010, 02:49 hrs
New Delhi: Better civic infrastructure, multi-level car parking on the cards for the market
Faced with regular complaints of sewer blockage from South Delhi’s Khan Market, the New Delhi Municipal Council is considering total redevelopment of the market area, on the lines of Connaught Place.Apart from relaying the entire civic infrastructure — including construction of a main utility corridor to cater to services like water supply, sewerage network, electrical cabling and telephone lines — the civic agency also plans to construct a multi-level car parking facility. This is likely to come up on a 2,000-square metre plot on Prithviraj Road that belongs to the Department of Personnel and Training .
“For the entire Khan Market area, all utility services are located in the middle circle, which is already too clustered. Large-scale conversion and commercialisation, combined with massive increase in footfalls over the years has put a tremendous load on infrastructure. Even though the process of relaying the basic utilities is already underway, Khan Market is now being considered for complete redevelopment,” a senior official said.
Conversion of houses in the area into shops, cafes, restaurants and boutiques has resulted in more people using the infrastructure that initially cartered to families.
“The sewerage in this area was created for residences. The number of restaurants here and the overall appeal of Khan Market has always brought more footfalls to this market. But the conditions are chaotic, the sewers are choked. Even the NDMC is under tremendous pressure to sort out the issues before the system collapses,” said Sanjeev Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders’ Association.
At present, the NDMC has taken up the development of the market place in three phases — the first phase gave it a boundary wall and the second phase brought about the relaying of roads and footpath. The third phase of development, at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore, will include ducting of cables and laying of sewerage network, which was supposed to be finished by January next year.
Now, the NDMC has larger plans for the market, and the civic agency is considering full redevelopment of the area. While a final decision is yet to be taken on this, senior officials said the multi-level car parking would come up soon. Apart from 150 shops, there are 74 flats on the top floors of the market, which have now been converted into food joints and other outlets. The market sees around 3,000 visitors on an average everyday.
