Once a vibrant business district of the capital, Connaught Place now lies amidst chaos.
Hailing from a small village in Bihar, Sudha Kunj used to set up shop along the pavements of A block in the busy inner circle of Connaught Place (CP). Business was steady as her handicraft attracted the attention of shoppers passing by. Today, she sits cramped between the muddy pavements and the unfinished parking space, currently under renovation. “No one can see me from here. Sometimes, my handicraft items get spoilt due to dirt from the construction. But I have nowhere to go,” laments Kunj.
Ved Prakash, manager of Nizam’s Kathi and Kabab located in the middle circle, shares a similar story. “CP is not the same and the construction is ruining its unique charm. Since there seems to be no accountability for the amount of dirt piling up, we have had to send our staff to clean the area around Nizam’s.” Another problem is spotting the place. “I’ve told the staff to go to other blocks and hold placards so that people know where Nizam’s is” says a frustrated Prakash.
The construction in CP was started by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) as part of its ‘Return to Heritage Project’ about two years ago and has continued ever since. While the work stalled during the 2010 Common Wealth Games, it has resumed at a frustratingly slow pace. Business in the area, suffered nearly 20 to 30 per cent during the delay.
“Business is almost nil. There is no space to sit, walk or even park outside,” complains KK Kapur, owner of Kapurbhai Jewellers in the middle circle. His showroom faces heaps of mud and several onlookers avoid the somewhat treacherous path to his shop, filled with stagnant rainwater.
So why haven’t the aggrieved shopkeepers complained to NDMC? “They hold meetings, informing us about the time line of the project but it seems never-ending,” says Kapur.
The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) holds internal meetings regularly to discuss the development in the area; it also holds meetings with NDMC to check the status of things. While 70 to 80 members who run businesses in the area are invited to these meetings, several miss out.
Couched at the edge of a bridge connecting PVR Plaza to B block, Anil Book Corner seems to be the worst victim of the ongoing construction work. With nowhere to stand while browsing the books but an unstable wooden plank, book lovers have turned a blind eye towards this old store. The owner claims to have not been invited to any meeting despite suffering the most.
While CP is well-connected owing to the Delhi metro, the chaos has ticked off several regulars. “We understand the problems of the people but this is a large-scale project. Today’s Connaught Place is very different from that of the 1930s and intervention was needed to restore it to its original heritage,” says NDMC spokesperson Anand Tiwari. He also speaks of the precautions and safety measures.
“At least 50 marshalls have been deployed and barricades have been put to ensure safety in the area. This is an engineering upgrade and will take time.” The proposed project is slated to finish by December 2012.
NDTA President Atul Bhargava acknowledges the loss to business in the area but is hopeful. “Last month we held a meeting with the chief minister and, with her personal involvement, I am sure things will speed up. Our immediate priority is to minimise the losses and finish the job.” The renovation in inner and outer circles is nearly complete, the middle circle still remains chaotic and mismanaged, adds Bhargava.
Shop owners in Connaught Place hope that NDMC will live up to that promise.
