Focus on Connaught Place re-development ahead of CWG

With thousands of foreign visitors likely to throng Connaught Place during the upcoming Commonwealth Games, Delhi Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia Tuesday asked civic officials to focus on the area’s re-development and complete the event-related works by June.

During an inspection to check the ongoing CWG project at Connaught Place, Walia said development of the area was on at 11 blocks and 75-81 percent of the work has been completed.

He said the re-development of Connaught Place was important as a number of tourists, players and officials of sports organisations from several countries will visit the place in October.

The minister, along with New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) chairman Parimal Rai, also inspected other ongoing Games-related project sites under the civic agency.

He directed the NDMC to complete all civic works before the onset of monsoon and concentrate on horticulture work thereafter.

An NDMC official said that keeping in view the requirement of parking for vehicles during the Games, the civic agency has chalked out a plan to make available ‘Park and Ride’ service at the Safdarjung Airport.

With a total area of 170,000 square metre, there will be a parking space for 3,000 cars, 6,000 two-wheelers and 450 buses, he added.

“This move will help in decongesting main entry and exit roads leading to the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the main site for the Commonwealth Games,” the official said.

Walia also visited the renovated Talkatora Stadium, where boxing tournament will take place during the Games, besides Shivaji Stadium which will be used as training venue for hockey.