The work of redeveloping Delhi’s walled city –Shahjanabad – needs greater focus and a work culture based on meeting deadlines and targets. I inspected several places yesterday where the plan of redevelopment is under implementation.Since 2007 everything is on hold. I am in the process of dusting the cobwebs on pending projects and soon there will be no looking back. The overhanging electricity and telephone wires not only give the walled city an ugly look, they are also undesirable from the safety angle. I ordered the senior officers of Delhi Jal Board, Urban Development, North MCD, SRDC, DMRC, Public Works Development, BSES and other utilities to finish the work in hand of undergrounding power, water and telephone cables in a time-bound way. In June this year I had convened a meeting and was told that ducting and undergrounding is in progress. However, the pace of work is not desirable. In Jama Masjid it has not even started. I have once again asked the officers to work within a framework of deadlines. The work of ducting in the stretch between Fatehpuri and Red Fort was inspected yesterday morning by me. There was much enthusiasm among local people over the implementation of this long-overdue project. I also directed the officers of Delhi Police to introduce a new traffic management regime through out-of-the-box thinking because unless the vehicular congestion problem is resolved, Shahjanabad will not fulfil its potential of being a major tourism destination. A meeting with officials of all local government authorities was held in the office of the Delhi Hindustani Mercantile Association, one of the prominent traders’ forums of the walled city. The Minister reviewed the Shahjanabad Redevelopment Plan in its entirety and asked questions on the status of its implementation. I also remember trams used to ply in Chandni Chowk during my childhood. I will go through the feasibility study conducted by Delhi Metro Railway Corporation and take a call on the merits and demerits –if any—of the proposal. Trams are now returning to urban areas even after their disappearance. In Washington DC trams were brought back after more than 50 years because it a clean form of transportation. Delhi is ranked as the world’s most polluted city and so having trams replacing fossil fuel burning vehicles in a congested area like Old Delhi is a good idea. Shahjanabad is a microcosm of modern India because it has cultural diversity, a rich history, vibrant commerce, bustling crowds and a great future. I will personally oversee the redevelopment of Delhi’s walled city to restore the glory of Shahjanabad. I have also arranged for another review meeting in near future in the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi. In that meeting there would be talks on the possibility of starting the second phase of works in areas where the ducting and underground work have been completed.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 05:37:25 +0000
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