HC perturbed over abysmal traffic conditions in Chandni Chowk

Perturbed over abysmal traffic conditions in Chandni Chowk area here, the Delhi High Court today directed Special Task Force (STF) constituted by it to submit a list of encroachments which exist in the way of redevelopment of the walled city.
A bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and S Muralidhar also directed the NDMC Commissioner to appear before it on November 27 for leasing out surface parking at Ramlila Maidan without seeking permission of the court.
"The court has been shown a set of photographs depicting abysmal traffic movement in Chandni Chowk area which makes vehicular traffic impossible.
"There is an unimaginable amount of garbage and filth in the area which reveals very sorry state of affairs," the bench said.

The bench, during an hour-long hearing, directed NDMC Commissioner, PWD Secretary Arun Baroka and Delhi government to file affidavits undertaking to ensure cleanliness and removal of garbage to eliminate unhygienic conditions.
It also ordered them to set a time frame for removal of illegal encroachments in the form of defunct and completely idle and non-operational police chowkis or posts and other structures.

The court directed Delhi Development Authority to file an affidavit with regard to change in land use of Dangal Maidan area here under Section 11 of Delhi Development Act, 1957 within seven days.
The court has been monitoring the issue of redevelopment of the walled city through a petition filed by NGO Manushi Sangathan in 2007.

Earlier this year, the government had submitted a proposal to ban motorised vehicles from the main road in Chandni Chowk and start a tram system for the convenience of pedestrians.
The court directed the government to formulate a policy on e-rickshaws, stating that these vehicles would have to be considered while creating a lane system.