NDMC to complete Palika terrace work soon

New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council has made significant progress in the renovation of the terrace of Palika Bazar in Connaught Place. By the end of the month, NDMC hopes to have the terrace featuring a granite pathway for walking and jogging, seating decks, LED-lit footpaths and grassy expanses. Stainless steel railings have been installed and saplings planted to beautify the space.
NDMC vice-chairman Satish Upadhyay said on Saturday, "While the horticulture work is in progress, the laying of granite tiles on the pathway connecting gates number 4 and 5 is pending." Grass has already been planted and the monsoon period should help it take root and spread.Just a claimed 10% of the work remains, including constructing a pathway near the connecting gate.
Upadhyay added, "Once developed, the landscaped space will give an elegant look to the place. We have made provision for water hydrants for watering the grass and plants. We will allow entry from steps and ramps to the garden."
The renovation of the terrace of the underground shopping complex was undertaken after NDMC dismantled the green area when it carried out waterproofing of the Palika Bazar roof following continuous seepage of water in 2020-21. The waterproofing was finished last year and the landscaping began soon after.
Besides the terrace, the renovation of the shopping complex is also under way, with repairing of the false ceiling and management of the hanging electricity wires. Baljit Kohli, chairman of the Palika Bazar Shopkeepers’ Welfare Association, said, "On Saturday, we met the new chairman, Naresh Kumar, and MP Bansuri Swaraj and told them about the problems related to the market. We were assured that the pending 30-40% work would be completed soon."
Constructed in the late 1970s, Palika Bazar, the first underground air-conditioned market in the city, is located between the inner and outer circles of Connaught Place. The lack of repairs was exacerbated by waterlogging, an overabundance of shops and dampness in the walls due to seepage from the roof garden. After the Covid lockdown, NDMC undertook some repairs to address some problems, including seepage, non-functional toilet blocks and waterlogging.
Traders complained about the damaged ducts in the fully air-conditioned market and the hanging wires. They also contended that the sanitation conditions are subpar and the recently constructed toilets lacked the staff to maintain them. Upadhyay and former chairman Amit Yadav visited the bazar in February .
A visit to the market on Saturday showed the work on the false ceiling was incomplete in some areas and wire could still be seen. An NDMC official claimed, "All wires belonging to NDMC have been taken care of by our electrical dept. Other agencies, including MTNL, have been approached to complete their portion of the task.”