Indian Express 30.12.2009
Roadmap: heritage panel draws up new traffic plan
If a new traffic management plan around the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) Civic Centre gets a nod from the civic agency and other authorities, it promises to add a more holistic touch to vehicular movement in the Capital from next year.
Commissioned to draw up a detailed traffic management scheme for the area around the Civic Centre, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will make its first presentation on Wednesday before the MCD’s Standing Committee.
The traffic plan will be in force around the MCD’s 28-storey Civic Centre and will encompass Connaught Place, ITO and Shahjahanabad. If passed, the plan will be forwarded to the United Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Center and the Delhi Urban Art Commission for final clearance and implementation.
It is expected that once the centre opens sometime next year — it is coming up near the New Delhi railway station — the swelling vehicular movement around it will demand strict supervision. Town planner and Convenor, Delhi Chapter, INTACH, A G K Menon said: “The upcoming centre is like a stone thrown in a pond. It will send ripples in the traffic situation. So far we have always addressed traffic problems as a local issue, building flyovers, subways and multi-lane signal free roads as quick solutions. But now we need to look at the total city network and work out holistic solutions.”
If a new traffic management plan around the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) Civic Centre gets a nod from the civic agency and other authorities, it promises to add a more holistic touch to vehicular movement in the Capital from next year.
Commissioned to draw up a detailed traffic management scheme for the area around the Civic Centre, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will make its first presentation on Wednesday before the MCD’s Standing Committee.
The traffic plan will be in force around the MCD’s 28-storey Civic Centre and will encompass Connaught Place, ITO and Shahjahanabad. If passed, the plan will be forwarded to the United Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Center and the Delhi Urban Art Commission for final clearance and implementation.
It is expected that once the centre opens sometime next year — it is coming up near the New Delhi railway station — the swelling vehicular movement around it will demand strict supervision. Town planner and Convenor, Delhi Chapter, INTACH, A G K Menon said: “The upcoming centre is like a stone thrown in a pond. It will send ripples in the traffic situation. So far we have always addressed traffic problems as a local issue, building flyovers, subways and multi-lane signal free roads as quick solutions. But now we need to look at the total city network and work out holistic solutions.”
Drawing inspiration from cities like London, the proposal has incorporated dedicated space for hawkers. The proposal has also taken into account gender safety based on recommendations made by Jagori, a city-based NGO that conducted a survey on problems women face while commuting.
“We often complain that our city is unfriendly but that is because we ourselves do not interact with the city. Most of us travel in cars and live in a closed community.”
