NDMC Chairman Seeks Public Views on Vehicle-Free Inner Circle in Connaught Place

A fresh debate over pedestrianising the inner circle of Connaught Place has emerged after the newly appointed New Delhi Municipal Council chairman invited public suggestions on restricting vehicular movement in the commercial hub.

NDMC Chairman Manoj Kumar Dwivedi took to social media platform X on Thursday to seek input on whether the inner circle could be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly zone. Dwivedi noted that nearly every resident across the National Capital Region has visited Connaught Place at least once, raising questions on whether a vehicular ban should be put in place for entire days or restricted to specific hours.

In his post, Dwivedi asked citizens whether the inner circle could be made vehicle-free to allow visitors to walk around freely, drawing comparisons to mall roads and central shopping areas in foreign cities. He also put forward specific timing models for public consideration, asking whether the restriction should operate throughout the day, run from 6 pm to midnight during summer months, or take effect from 11 am to 4 pm during the winter season.

Additionally, Dwivedi sought public opinion on whether different timings should be introduced for weekends and asked what activities citizens would prefer to see hosted in Central Park and the inner circle during vehicle-free windows, noting that positive suggestions would be appreciated.

The proposal comes amid opposition from local traders regarding pedestrianisation plans, while members of the public offered mixed reactions on social media. While several users welcomed the initiative, others cautioned that civic reforms must be carried out before implementing bans.

One social media user responded that utilizing time slots serves as an excellent approach for an initial stage, but warned that vehicle entry bans should avoid peak traffic hours, such as 8 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm, to prevent surrounding traffic snarls from worsening further.