Coming: Food plaza, walkways and more at Old Delhi’s Netaji Subhash Marg

Taking cue from Amritsar’s heritage corridor project, the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) has agreed to beautify part of Netaji Subhash Marg from Daryaganj signal to Lothian Bridge in Old Delhi.

The pavements on both sides of this about 1-km stretch in front of Red Fort will be spruced up with display panels showcasing the history of Shahjahanabad and with food plazas, street furniture, walkways, space for vendors and dedicated lanes for non-motorised vehicles.

Non-destined vehicles will not be allowed to use the road. At a later stage, the authorities plan to convert the stretch into a vehicle-free zone.

Sukhbir Singh Badal, deputy chief minister of Punjab, had last month inaugurated an 800-metre stretch from Amritsar’s Town Hall to the Golden Temple after a similar revamp.

Back home, SRDC officials said they held consultations with Delhi traffic police and drew an integrated traffic management plan for compulsory diversions.

A senior official of the Delhi government said no heavy vehicles and buses will be allowed beyond Delhi Gate or Lothian Bridge traffic signal. Only private vehicles will be permitted to use that stretch.

The official said initially the restrictions will be applicable only on heavy commercial vehicles, but later the corporation intends to ban private vehicles also. “After deliberation at appropriate level, congestion charges may be introduced for private cars coming to the area to deter motorists,” he said.

One-way traffic management plan

People, coming from Mathura Road and heading towards Old Delhi Railway Station, Fatehpuri Masjid or Kashmere Gate, will be diverted towards Rajghat-Ring Road and from Hanuman Mandir crossing they can use Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg to reach their destinations.

One-way traffic arrangement will be put in place for vehicles going to Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk area. Traffic from Lothian Bridge will be allowed southwards up to Jama Masjid-Darya Ganj signal and will move in one direction towards the same point from Delhi Gate crossing.

People will be able to use Nishad Raj Marg for exit towards Ring Road.

“A proposal for making Netaji Subhash Marg (in front of Lal Quila) completely vehicle-free by diverting traffic has been approved. The traffic police, after seeking approval from the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (planning & engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC), will place the plan before Delhi’s chief secretary for final approval,” the official said.

Earlier, the SRDC had prepared a one-way traffic plan to decongest entire Shahjahanabad, which has been put on hold. Before its implementation, a trial was to be conducted.

“All stakeholders were brought on board. A detail plan was submitted by the then Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic). However, the Corporation could not carry out its trial as the government did not give a go ahead after local traders raised objections,” said a source in the government.