NDMC chairman floats plan for vehicle-free Inner Circle at Connaught Place

New Delhi: Sept 3 Connaught Place, the heart of the national capital, could get a vehicle-free Inner Circle for fixed hours, with NDMC Chairman Manoj Dwivedi seeking public views on turning the busy commercial hub into a pedestrian-friendly space.

"Can we make Inner Circle of CP vehicle-free?" Dwivedi said in an X post on Thursday, asking people to weigh in on the idea of allowing visitors to "walk around freely" in the Inner Circle.

He suggested two possible timings - 6 pm to midnight in summer and 11 am to 4 pm in winter - while asking whether the area should instead remain vehicle-free throughout the day.


Dwivedi also sought suggestions on how the space could be used when vehicles are kept off the road.

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"What kind of activities would you prefer in Central Park and Inner Circle during no vehicle slots?" he said, asking for "positive suggestions".

The area has experimented with pedestrian-only periods through "Raahgiri@CP", under which the Inner Circle is opened to people on select Sundays for activities such as walking, cycling, fitness sessions and street performances.

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The proposed arrangement could give such pedestrian-focused use a more regular place in Connaught Place, while allowing vehicular movement during the remaining hours.