Extra parking lots to unclog Kirti Nagar and Kamla Nagar

On the lines of Karol Bagh, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation will decongest the Kirti Nagar and Kamla Nagar markets in west and north Delhi to make these places visitor-friendly, a senior officer of the civic body said on Sunday.

The civic body had last week started decongesting the busy Karol Bagh market and put in place several measures such as pedestrianisation of Ajmal Khan Road and regularisation of parking and traffic movement.

The corporation also hiked on-street parking rates to promote public transport and discourage private cars.

Varsha Joshi, commissioner North Delhi Municipal Corporation, said basic groundwork was being done and the decongestion plan would be initiated in the Kirti Nagar and Kamla Nagar markets after elections.

“We have got good response at Karol Bagh so we are now planning to reflect this in the Kirti Nagar and Kamla Nagar markets. Decongestion of these markets will only enhance the shopping experience for visitors,” Joshi said.

Both markets face the problems of encroachment and haphazard parking.

Detailing the plan, Joshi said the decongestion plan includes regularisation of parking and traffic, removal of encroachments and beautification of the area. She said if things go as planned, the decongestion plan will be implemented in all major market areas in the municipality’s jurisdiction.

“Like we did in Karol Bagh, parking will regularised by creating extra parking lots and promoting off-street parking. There will be no immediate pedestrianisation of the Kirti Nagar and Kamla Nagar markets but we will identify pockets within the market area where it can be done without causing inconvenience to anyone,” Joshi said.

The corporation had increased parking charge for cars from ₹20 to ₹40 for the first hour on Arya Samaj Road in Karol Bagh market. The rates for parking up to five hours have been increased from ₹50 to ₹70, and ₹300 for more than five hours.

Also, instead of perpendicular parking, parallel parking is being implemented to give more space on Arya Samaj Road to pedestrians.

Joshi said the decongestion of these markets will be done with the help of community participation to make it more inclusive. “More visitors come to the market where they don’t face obstacles while walking. It will be done in consultation with the market associations of Kirti Nagar and Kamla Nagar. We are in touch with them and will chalk out the plan accordingly,” she said.