Drains to become parking areas for Commonwealth Games

Foreseeing heavy vehicle traffic around the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the capital's civil agency on Wednesday annunciated that 2 massive drainages in the area would be covered up to allow parking facilities.

"The MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) has sanctioned 2 schemes to develop parking zone in the area of 121,875 sq meters by covering up the two nallahs (drainages) around Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium," said MCD standing committee chairman Vijender Gupta.

The parking areas are estimated to cost a whooping Rs 3.25 billion.

"The works on the projects will commence from Dec 28 and will be completed by May 2010. A project management consultant has already been appointed for these projects," Gupta added.

The projects will involve covering the Sunehari Nallah (behind Lodhi Hotel to Dayal Singh College along Lodhi Road) and the Kushak Nallah (from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium South Gate to Bhisham Pitamah flyover).

As per the MCD, raised roads will be constructed along these stretches, and will serve as parking zone for around 700 buses.

If the feat is achieved in time, Gupta said it would definitely ease the traffic over-crowding predicted in the area during the 2010 games, as the stadium is one of the key venues for the event.

"During the coming 2010 Commonwealth Games, a number of sports activities in addition to opening and closing ceremony of games shall be organized in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Grueling vehicular movement will take place and numerous parking slots and roads will be required to ensure smooth flow of vehicle traffic," Gupta said.

After the Commonwealth Games, the MCD has proposed that a part of Kushak Nallah parking will be used in the already proposed elevated corridor from Sarai Kale Khan to INA market.

"The remaining area will be used for parking purposes by the nearby government and corporate office complexes and residential colonies, whose vehicles often spill over to the roads, causing congestion and inconvenience to the vehicular traffic and pedestrians," Gupta concluded, emphasizing the long-term utility of the scheme.