15-day ultimatum to fix Delhi's Chandni Chowk mess

NEW DELHI: Days after deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia expressed his displeasure over laxity in the maintenance of the revamped central vista of Chandni Chowk, agencies have been directed to set things in order by July 6.
At his first meeting with stakeholders, chief nodal officer HH Rajesh Prasad -- who is also the principal secretary of the Public Works Department -- issued directions to the agencies to carry out repairs and clean-up of the area, apart from checking the movement of motorised vehicles, installing automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) cameras and making boom barriers operational.

Sisodia conducted a surprise inspection of Chandni Chowk on June 10 and said officials would be punished for misconduct in case of any laxity in the maintenance and cleanliness of the redeveloped 1.4km stretch, stretching from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid.
“The condition of the stretch has deteriorated over a period of time due to the laxity of agencies. It was the first meeting after the chief nodal officer was appointed on the direction of the court. We hope things will improve in the next few days,” said Sanjay Bhargav, president, Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal.
“To accommodate the homeless, a new shelter had to be built, but DUSIB has yet to be handed over the piece of land for the purpose. The chief nodal officer has directed the police and DUSIB to remove the homeless and accommodate them in shelter homes. MCD and the civil defence personnel have been directed to ensure that the number of cycle rickshaws do not cross 400,” Bhargav said.
A senior Delhi government official said agencies, such as discoms and Delhi Jal Board, have been directed to prepare a standard operating procedure on digging and repair of the stretch.
For the removal of encroachments by shopkeepers as well as vagabonds, a special task force formed by the high court --co-headed by deputy commissioner of police (north) and MCD’s deputy commissioner (city zone) -- has been asked to take action.