NDMC Proposes Vehicle-Free Connaught Place Inner Circle, Drawing Mixed Responses
New Delhi Municipal Council Chairman Manoj Dwivedi on Thursday sought public suggestions on a proposal to convert the Inner Circle of Connaught Place into a vehicle-free pedestrian zone to enhance crowd management, triggering debate among local merchant groups and visitors.
In his public appeal, Dwivedi cited examples of mall roads and major tourist zones in foreign cities as potential models for the commercial district. The NDMC chief outlined several possibilities in a post on X, asking whether the Inner Circle should be closed to vehicles for the entire day or restricted during specific time slots, such as 6 pm to midnight during summer months, 11 am to 4 pm during winter, or via separate schedules on weekends.
The proposal met swift opposition from commercial organisations operating in the market. The New Delhi Traders Association and the New Delhi Market Association rejected the move, stating that barring vehicles would directly threaten business revenue and worsen congestion on the Outer Circle, as observed during past traffic trials.
"There is absolutely no question of making CP inner circle vehicle-free, as the market is already well designed for enough pedestrian movement," the New Delhi Market Association said. The traders' body urged municipal authorities to focus their efforts on clearing illegal hawkers and removing vehicles parked in violation of rules instead. Previous pedestrianisation trials conducted on weekends in 2019 and 2022 faced similar resistance from business owners who reported drops in sales due to parking constraints.
Reactions among the public were divided. Some critics argued that Connaught Place is a central hub serving offices, restaurants, and shops visited regularly by elderly citizens, noting that accessibility must remain a priority rather than treating the commercial centre like a hill station plaza. Others welcomed the civic administration's focus on urban design, suggesting a phased approach with weekend closures to monitor pedestrian footfall, retail turnover, Outer Circle traffic displacement, noise and air quality, emergency access, and metro ridership.
Alongside the consultation on vehicle movement, the NDMC chairman announced that operating hours for 11 public toilets across Connaught Place have been extended until midnight to accommodate visitors who remain in the shopping hub late into the evening.
