Connaught Place vehicle-free: City planners, heritage experts give thumbs up

New Delhi: Urban planners and heritage activists have welcomed the government's move to pedestrianise middle and inner circular roads of Connaught Place, while suggesting boosting of parking infrastructure and deployment of rickshaws and e-buses for ferrying commuters.

"The move to make Connaught Place friendly for pedestrians is a good initiative but needs to be executed with proper planning. From the heritage perspective, it's a wonderful news, as people would now be able to admire the architectural grandeur of this iconic building complex.

"But, care must be taken by the government to provide alternative modes of transport, like e-rickshaws or compact electric buses, so that the decision doesn't become an inconvenience for commuters," noted conservation architect and town planner, AGK Menon told PTI.

Menon, former convener of INTACH Delhi Chapter said, the plan would be successful only if various urban agencies, including DDA, traffic department and traders associations, work in consonance.

Well-known heritage activist Sohail Hashmi says, "it's a fantastic initiative" that will help bring back the "glory of CP" and inculcate walking habit among people.

"People in Delhi now hardly want to walk. This move would not only bring back that habit, but also make them admire history like never before. The Inner Circle is most of the time choked by increasing number of vehicles, either moving or parked.

"When CP was built, the city had a very thin population, and there were hardly any cars. Now, there is a vehicular explosion, and so this is a wonderful initiative to not just decongest the busy market zone, but, people over time, would eventually also begin to develop greater respect for architectural heritage," he said.

Connaught Place or 'CP' as it is popularly known as was built from 1920s-1930s as a premier shopping and recreation destination in the heart of Delhi, and despite lot of change effected in and around it, still enjoys a pride of place in the city.

Named after the Duke of Connaught, Prince Arthur who visited India in 1921, the building was designed by Robert Tor Russell, who also built the Parliament House. A handsomely colonnaded structure, its design is said to be inspired from the Royal Crescent in Bath, England.

"People are getting worried about shopping, but we never think of the burden on environment. E-rickshaws or even pedal rickshaws in limited numbers should be allowed for ease of commuters, and I say, old-styled phaetons or horse-buggies should be allowed to ply. People would then know the real joy of visiting CP," Hashmi said.