Only four of eight CP subways to meet October target

Friday , Feb 26, 2010

One of the biggest projects for the Commonwealth Games is to turn the city pedestrian friendly. The plan includes constructing eight subways at Connaught Place.

With the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) yet to get permission from the Delhi Traffic Police for two subways, it seems unlikely the whole project will meet the deadline.

At present, work is on at four subways; they are expected to be ready on time. Sources in the NDMC said the Delhi Traffic Police have given permission for work on two other subways, but the civic agency is awaiting nod for the last two.

Considering that each phase of subway construction takes nearly 240 days, completing the rest before the Games in October seems unlikely.

"Our aim now is to complete the four subways on which work has started. We will think about the rest when we get permission. We want to complete as many subways as possible," a senior NDMC official said.

At present, work is on at Barakhamba Road and Panchkuian Road; both have two subways each connecting the Outer Circle with the Inner Circle. Work will be completed only by the end of August.

The subways at Barakhamba Road will connect Statesman House with N-Block and Gopaldas Building with M-Block. The Engineers India Limited is handling the construction.

When the NDMC began work on the eight subways around CP's Outer Circle on December 25, the city's festive spirit was marred by traffic chaos.

Considering the condition of traffic, work was stalled for a few days in January. A team comprising the Traffic police, the New Delhi Trader's Association (NDTA) and the Lieutenant Governor found that construction of all eight subways would lead to congestion in the heart of the city for several hours and suggested work be taken up in a phased manner.

According to the proposal floated in 2009, a road-level pedestrian subway will be constructed between K-Block and Yusuf Zai Market while seven underground pedestrian subways will be constructed between Gopaldas Building and M-Block; Statesman House and N-Block; Railway Colony and H-Block; H-Block and Chelmsford Road; P-Block and G-Block, Baba Kharak Singh Marg and J-Block. An underground subway will also be constructed on KG Marg, connecting the area with the Outer Circle.

Original news source http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/feb/260210-Major-traffic-diversion-India-Gate-Hockey-World-Cup.htm