NDMC Chief Seeks Suggestions on Making Connaught Place Inner Circle Vehicle Free
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) chief Manoj Dwivedi on Thursday sought public suggestions on transforming the inner circle of Connaught Place into a vehicle-free zone to make the popular commercial hub more visitor-friendly. Dwivedi noted that nearly every resident across the National Capital Region has visited Connaught Place and asked citizens for their input on managing the area better.
In a post on social media platform X, Dwivedi questioned whether pedestrianising the inner circle would allow visitors to walk around freely, drawing comparisons to mall roads and central areas in foreign cities. He asked the public whether the restriction should remain in place for the full day or only during specific hours, suggesting operational windows from 6 pm to midnight during summers and 11 am to 4 pm during winters.
The NDMC chief also asked whether alternative timings should be considered for weekends. In addition, he sought public recommendations on the kinds of activities visitors would prefer to see organised across Central Park and the inner circle during the designated no-vehicle time slots.
The outreach drew several responses from social media users. One respondent supported the move, comparing the concept to the Raahgiri initiative held on Sundays in Gurugram several years ago to foster community sports and outdoor activities, though the user noted that maintaining strict security would be essential.
Another commenter welcomed the proposal but stressed that civic authorities must first tackle the presence of street hawkers and beggars in the market. The user questioned the presence of existing enforcement teams and suggested deploying dedicated tourist police equipped with neon jackets and pedestrian scooters.
A separate user pointed out that restricting cars in the inner circle must be supported by an increase in bus services to Connaught Place. The respondent also suggested that old buildings could be gradually replaced with housing to create a self-sufficient superblock, claiming property values could then rival Golf Course Road in Gurugram.
Alongside the vehicle-free proposal, Dwivedi announced an immediate operational adjustment for late-night visitors. He stated that operating hours for 11 public toilets across Connaught Place are being extended up to midnight, with similar extensions planned for more facilities in due course.
