Probably it's time we needed something like this in Goa too, instead of hi-flying ideas like flyovers that some politicians would like to push in Goa (for obvious reasons?) FN
---------- Forwarded message ---------- A pedestrian free zone soon at Delhi's commercial hub >From Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) For long it has been the Indian capital's best-known landmark, with its circular white colonnades dating back to the British era forming a unique shopping mall. Now Connaught Place, located in the heart of the city, will be known for its free pedestrian zone. The Indian authorities have been toying with the idea of making the shopping and commercial hub into a no-vehicle zone since 1993. And they will soon be giving concrete shape to their idea. Taking one step at a time, the authorities will first make the inner circle of Connaught Place a free pedestrian zone. "It will be difficult to ban all vehicles, so we will start by banning two-wheelers first and then move on," Madan Thapliyal, the spokesman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), told IANS. Though traffic restrictions have been imposed at several arterial roads to ensure safety for shoppers, officials swung into action to decongest the area after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation planned to construct one of its biggest stations at the Central Park of the arcade. With the metro station coming up at the busy shopping centres, officials thought of marking the area for pedestrians. There was fear that with a metro station coming up at the centre of the shopping arcade, it would become chaotic for the traffic police to manage tens and thousands of people coming to catch a train, besides the vehicular traffic. Officials said parking zones would be constructed at four places, including an underground shopping centre, Palika Bazar, which will be next to the metro station. "Palika Bazar has the capacity to house 1,000 cars," Thapliyal said. Delhi Chief Secretary Shailaja Chandra has given a nod to the move, which was proposed by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation. All government agencies are working in this plan, the official said. "Our work will be restricted to providing well maintained roads. A pedestrian zone will also ensure that there is less pollution," Thapliyal said. Officials said electric scooters could ply on the inner circle to help pedestrians. Officials said the proposal was sent by NDMC in 1993 but was shelved after shopkeepers opposed the idea. A similar exercise undertaken at Lajpat Nagar, a shopping centre in south Delhi, has been somewhat successful in making the area safe for pedestrians, official said. --Indo-Asian News Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
