NDMC plans to close road near Parliament

NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has received only two public objections to its proposal to close the portion of Talkatora Road between the Red Cross Road roundabout and the Gurudwara Rakabganj Road-Talkatora Road rotary. NDMC has decided to go ahead with preparations for the closure. A power sub-station on Imtiaz Khan Marg, which separates Parliament Annexe and AIR building, will be shifted to Pandit Pant Lane."Estimates for shifting the sub-station and widening Imtiaz Khan Marg are being prepared," said NDMC chief engineer C M Paruthi. The road width is being raised to six-lane from the existing three lanes for handling the additional load of traffic that may be diverted. Urban development ministry officials said the road is being closed as per a decade-old plan. The plan could not be executed earlier due to construction of the new Parliament library. "We will now begin greening the area and connecting Parliament House, the annexe and the library. Talkatora Road will be closed once the greening works is completed," a source said. NDMC spokesperson Madan Thapliyal said: "A decision on the objections to the closure of the road would be studied by a six-member panel, which will try to address the concerns of people. The proposal to close the section of Talkatora Road has been opposed by several traffic experts who claimed the move would create traffic snarls in the area. "This road is one of the busiest and most crucial links between west, east and New Delhi areas. The ripple effect will be felt right up to RML roundabout and Park Street," said a traffic police official.