Shahjahanabad was once a beautiful city with monumental structures, like the Town Hall, Clock Tower and Red Fort; places of worship like Jama Masjid, Sunehri Masjid; gardens, like the Begum-ka-bagh, Parda Bagh, Anguri Bagh and bustling markets, and streets. Destruction of the city began in 1857, when the British introduced the railway line. It cut through Shahjahanabad. Railway stations and railways yards were built next to Chandni chowk, the main street of the city and gardens like the Begum-ka-bagh were destroyed. Later, Lutyen’s design of New Delhi only alienated the city even further. A green buffer was created between the old city and Connaught Place, The area between Kashmere gate and Delhi gate was wiped out and the old city wall was partly demolished to build Asaf Ali Road. The MPD 2021 was unable to mitigate the situation and its failures have compounded the problem. Incompatible land use, congestion and neglect have led to the misuse of the city.

PROJECT RATIONALE

The problems faced by the city are already complex to begin with. The latest development in the area abutting the walled city is the construction of MCD’s Civic Centre, at the corner of JLN Marg and Minto Road. This area stretching from Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg in the south to Asaf Ali Road in the north and from Bhavbhuti Marg in the west to Bahadurshah Zafar Marg in the east is really the interface between Shahjahanabad and New Delhi.

The projected increase in the traffic volumes once the Civic Centre is operational has to be catered to along with the other stakeholders (viz: pedestrians, hawkers, non motorized vehicles, etc). The need of the hour therefore is a Traffic Management Plan that caters to the present functions and users of the area. MCD’s Civic Centre can therefore be seen as a catalyst for the renewal of the walled city. INTACH Delhi Chapter looks at this project of an appropriate Traffic Management plan for the area as one that will integrate the walled city with New Delhi.

STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF THE AREA

Traffic patterns and existing Road Network : The existing ROWs have no logical hierarchy of function. While the MPD 2021 has identified a hierarchy eg: Asaf Ali road should be a Distributor Road & JLN Marg should be an arterial road, in reality the roads in the area under consideration do not conform to MPD 2021 and NUTP 2006 recommendation of equitable distribution of road space. There is friction between street activities on account of land-use and traffic. eg: the area in front of hospitals/colleges/schools will require substantial pedestrian areas. There is friction between different modes creating inefficiency eg: Pedestrians and NMVs are forced to use MV lanes. The main objective of the Integrated Signage System is clarity of communication. To achieve this, the signage was developed and transmitted in a manner that would be interpreted and understood by all.

INTACH’s PROPOSAL

Traffic Management Plan : When MCD’s Civic Centre starts functioning, it will add an estimated 11,000 person trips to the existing numbers. INTACH, Delhi Chapter proposes that this project increased be accommodated in the same proportion as the existing modal split, I.e., a major share should go to Public Transport. If one assumes that the projected numbers will arrive by private vehicles and the ROWs are increased accordingly, then the city will be taken over by cars. Delhi has to be returned to the people. Delhi already has 21% of its land surface for roads, which is the maximum % of road space in any mega city. Hence any traffic management has to work with the existing ROWs and development should be mass transit oriented. There is an urgent need to discourage the shift to Private Vehicles and encourage the use of Public Transport & Non-Motorized Modes

The Traffic Management proposal plans for – people & not vehicles

As per the NUTP it will ensure equitable distribution of road space for different modes of transport.

Exclusive bus lanes ensure that transportation is mass transit oriented and buses should be

• FREQUENT
• RELIABLE
• COMFORTABLE

The proposal will also Integrate different modes of transport to create a network synergy.

Recommended Road Hierarchy: Based on existing ROWs and road functions the road hierarchy, identified will function as a logical network.

• PRIMARY ARTERIAL ROADS (60-80M) – Ring Road
• OTHER PRIMARY ARTERIAL ROADS(45-60M) – BSZ Marg, NSC Marg
• PRIMARY COLLECTOR(30-40M) – JLN Marg, DDU Marg, Minto Road
• LOCAL STREETS(12-20M) – Faisil Road

Proposed Public Transport Network:

NORTH -SOUTH -SEGREGATED BUS CORRIDOR (Bahadurshah Zafar marg-Netaji Subahash Marg onwards)

EAST - WEST SEGREGATED BUS CORRIDOR (JLN Marg & DDU Marg; Minto Road –connecting link)

Proposed Cross Section of Roads:

Proposed section of existing ROW is based on principles of equity... which provides for all users:

• Footpaths - barrier free movement for pedestrians
• Activity Zone - hawkers, kiosks, NMV
• On Grade segregation of traffic - Dedicated NMVs lanes
  - Segregated Bus lanes
  - Segregated MV lanes
• Traffic Management by : – Modern signal systems

Better signage

• Additional Features - Efficient Lighting Design
  - Landscaping
  - Street Furniture