Delhi Connaught Place to become vehicle-free? New NDMC chief seeks public views on making CP Inner Circle pedestrian-friendly

Delhi’s Connaught Place could see restrictions on vehicular movement in its Inner Circle as the newly appointed NDMC chairperson Manoj Kumar Dwivedi seeks public suggestions on making the area more pedestrian-friendly. Dwivedi has asked residents whether the Inner Circle should be made vehicle-free throughout the day or whether restrictions should be imposed during specific hours, a TOI report stated.

The proposal has triggered a debate among the public and traders, with some supporting pedestrianisation while others have raised concerns about traffic, parking, accessibility and its possible impact on businesses.

NDMC chief asks people for suggestions

Dwivedi said almost every person in the National Capital Region would have visited Connaught Place at least once. He asked people to share their views on restricting vehicles in the Inner Circle and making the area easier for pedestrians to use.



“Can we make the Inner Circle of CP vehicle-free so that people can walk around freely like on some mall roads or central areas in foreign cities?

2. Should we do it for a full day or do it from 6pm to midnight in summers and 11am to 4pm in winters?

3. Some different timing for weekends?

4. What kind of activities would you prefer in Central Park and Inner Circle during no vehicle slots?

Positive suggestions would be appreciated,” he posted on X.

The proposal received mixed responses. While some welcomed the idea, others suggested that the timing of any vehicle restriction should be planned carefully to avoid adding to existing traffic problems.

“Time slots are an excellent approach for the preliminary stage. Only suggestion is that the time slot for vehicle entry ban should not be during peak hours (for example 8-11am and 5-8pm), otherwise traffic snarls will stretch even further,” stated one user on X.

Traders raise concerns over pedestrianisation

Traders in Connaught Place have opposed the proposal, saying that restricting vehicles could affect business and make it less convenient for customers to reach shops, restaurants and other establishments. The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) said restricting vehicle access directly in front of showrooms could hurt sales and reduce accessibility.

“Past trials resulted in sharp drops in footfall and chaotic parking conditions for genuine shoppers, especially children, women, senior citizens and the physically challenged. Also, closing Inner Circle will divert massive vehicular volumes onto Outer Circle and feeder roads, severely aggravating existing bottlenecks rather than eliminating congestion,” said NDTA president Atul Bhargava.

The traders said the NDTA should be consulted before any changes are introduced in Connaught Place.

NDTA points to existing pedestrian space

Amit Gupta, a member of the NDTA, said Connaught Place already has significant space for pedestrians and that the authorities should first address encroachments and illegal parking.

“CP is already designed with 15 feet of covered corridors and 20 feet of walking space, making it inherently pedestrian-friendly without needing a vehicular restriction. Clearing the pedestrian corridors by removing hundreds of illegal hawkers and lifting wrongly parked buses, cabs and autos from roadsides will create enough space for pedestrians,” said Amit Gupta, member, NDTA.

Traders also questioned whether Connaught Place has enough parking space to accommodate vehicles if access to the Inner Circle is restricted.

They also pointed to Delhi’s weather and pollution levels, saying conditions are different from countries where pedestrian-friendly roads and vehicle-free areas are common. According to them, walking on Delhi streets is not always practical because of the weather and pollution.

Connaught Place has seen earlier pedestrianisation attempts

The proposal is not the first attempt to make Connaught Place more pedestrian-friendly.In January 2017, former Union minister Venkaiah Naidu shared a plan to pedestrianise Connaught Place on a pilot basis for three months, starting February.

In 2019, former NDMC chairperson Naresh Kumar tried to implement another pilot project. The plan faced opposition from traders, who later agreed to a two-day trial. However, two days before the planned exercise, traders accused the agency of changing the plan and withdrew their support.

In April this year, Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu sought an action plan for pedestrianisation projects in high-footfall areas of Connaught Place and Khan Market. The plan was also intended to ensure that essential civic services continued to be provided in these areas.

The latest proposal has once again brought the question of pedestrianisation in Connaught Place into focus, with the NDMC now seeking public views on the timing and possible activities that could be introduced in the Inner Circle during vehicle-free periods.