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Sample of redevelopment of Chandni Chowk (Delhi) will ruin Chandni Chowk, its traders and residents

Kashmir Times. Dated: 8/15/2019 10:35:58 PM

Dear Editor,
Redevelopment-plan of historic Chandni Chowk in Delhi has been going on under direct monitoring of Delhi High Court. Colourful pictorial posters put at various places in Chandni Chowk looked very attractive and practical for restoring old glory of ancient market for development of Chandni Chowk as a major tourist-attraction for visitors and shoppers. But a small sample-stretch developed for design-approval is just contrary to what had been widely publicised in pictorial posters.
It was planned to have a wide green stretch in middle of Chandni Chowk having electricity-transformers and public-utilities with both sides of the mid-stretch to be developed as wide roads allowing either pedestrians or e-rickshaws only. But the sample developed is just contrary where both sides of mid-stretch also having big stone flower-bases and benches with promised roads on both sides of mid-stretch seen nowhere. In practice stone-benches will be largely misused as resting place for smack-addicts which is a big problem in Chandni Chowk. Stone flower-bases are likely to be converted into waste-bins.
It is evident that promised completion of project between Red Fort and Fountain Chowk cannot be completed by Independence Day, thus likely to further delay complete project indefinitely even though monitored by Delhi High Court. Unfortunately no agency is worried about requirement of fire-brigade or ambulance in case of need. Concerned ones should ensure fast completion of complete project rather than only a part between Red Fort and Fountain Chowk that too as per promised original plan of two wide roads with wide green belt in between having transformers, pubic-utilities and sitting benches for resting of tourists (and not smack-addicts).
—Subhash Chandra Agrawal,
1775 Kucha Lattushah
Dariba, Chandni Chowk
Delhi.