Date:18/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/18/stories/2008081853610400.htm

New Delhi

Traffic, parking facilities for Games 2010 to be launched

Staff Reporter

It will cost Rs.325.5 crore and will be done within 18 months

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi would launch two schemes for providing traffic and parking facilities during the upcoming Commonwealth Games here.

The announcement was made by Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra this past week. These two schemes include covering of Sunehari drain from Lajpat Rai Marg to Dyal Singh College along Lodhi Road and covering of Kushak drain from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium South Gate to Bhishampitamah flyover for constructing elevated road, including parking facility for the Games. According to the MCD, these would cost Rs.325.5 crore and would be completed within 18 months.

Ms. Mehra said: “A number of sports activities, in addition to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, would be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. There will be heavy vehicular movement in these areas and a lot of parking slots and roads would be required to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic.”

“Accordingly, it was decided by the MCD that parking spaces for buses during the Commonwealth Games and elevated roads would be provided over the two drains which would also act as roads in addition to parking.”

The Mayor also said that at present the area around Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was occupied by various government and corporate offices with several prominent colonies also situated around it. “The area is connected by Lodhi Road in North, Lala Lajpat Rai Marg in East and Bhisham Pitamah Marg on the West side. The work of the Delhi metro is also in progress to connect this area. At present, offices in the nearby areas are using the space in front of their offices as parking thereby causing inconvenience to the vehicular traffic and pedestrians.”