Transforming Delhi - 4 -Connaught Place

The Connaught Place, New Delhi  

One cannot navigate the Connaught Place promenade in a pleasant manner at anytime.

Can we redesign this very important public space so that it lives up to its promise? Can this be done and yet provide for interests of every group, work or pleasure, in an affordable manner. 

To achieve this we need to begin with creating adequate parking space.

Step 1 : Allow parking contractors to install Carousel Parking systems : that allows 10 -12 cars to be parked in the ground space of say 3 cars.

Such installation be placed all along the middle and outer circle and spaces in between blocks.

Step 2 : The Full Inner Circle be made traffic free : Vehicular access to inner circle be completely barred.

Erect small pillars, permitting entry of pedestrians only along the perimeter of inner circle.

 Outcome 1: These installations be manned by trained personnel. No need to "handover car keys" to un-identified attendants. No pushing cars or waiting to get in and out of parking.

(Important : Improved Power Situation should ensure 24/7 power electricity to Carousels)

Provides jobs for trained technicians ( per 10 carousels/shift) and attendants (uniformed, name tagged per 3 carousels /shift).  

 

Outcome 2: The parking charges can be reasonable ( we already pay Rs 60-100 most times)

Electronic ticketing and revenue data - formalized accounts and easy GST collection by Govt at the end of each day.  

Step 3: The Inner promenade to be completely free of squatters / book and artifact sellers.

Develop a row of aesthetically pleasing kiosks around the periphery of road / current parking spaces.

These kiosks will be rented out to pavement sellers @ Rs 100/day.

The area between the Current parking upto the outer line of Central park be developed into a regulated entertainment and relaxation area.

Intersperse these kiosks (3m X3M) with small open air sit outs - owned by food sellers / restaurants -on monthly rents.

A few podiums and amphitheaters to be built for musicians and performers. (To be rented?)

Walkways and gardens.

Many small water bodies can be added with features / sculptures .

Adequate toilet facilites and drinking water kiosks /facilities -ban sale of bottled water in CP area.

Step 4 : Install local sewerage treatment plants -no load on the city's sewerage system

Surely, the Urban Arts commission and Delhi Govt has many gifted architects and designers who can convert this area into a "go to" destination for residents and tourists.     

Learning from Gita

Dev Dutt Pattanaik is a modern rishi : He has explained the philosophy of Gita so well.

1. Exclusion is the root of all adharma : So very pithy.

2. Focus is giving way to perspective, attention (dhyana) to awareness (dharana), as his gaze finally rejects the boundary separating the self from the other, and action from responsibility. This is "darshan"!

In darshan there is no judgement, because there are no boundaries, no rules, no separation of right and wrong, mine and not mine.

When we "Darshan"- understand the others' fear and hunger- the World becomes a "Rangbhumi"

In Judgement - right wrong, mine not mine- we divide the World, it becomes a "rannbhumi"