Violations continue in Chandni Chowk’s regulated zone despite deployment of home guards

Even as home guard volunteers are deployed to restrict the access of a regulated zone in Chandni Chowk following an order in December last year, the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) has flagged continuing violations in a letter to the Delhi Traffic Police. In the letter, the SRDC attached photos of various locations where the absence of home guards from the designated locations of boom barriers led to unrestricted access to motorised vehicles in the restricted zone — the 1.3-km-long pedestrianised stretch from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid.

SRDC Managing Director Ravi Dhawan sought Delhi Traffic Police’s intervention in the matter in the letter dated January 16 and underlined that two integrated police booths should be operationalised with immediate effect.

Senior traffic officials confirmed that they have received the letter. “We have filed a written reply to their letter and necessary measures are being taken. The matter is also in the High Court so it will not be right to comment at the moment,” the official said.

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“It may be noted that a decision was taken by the Home Department on December 1, 2024, to deploy at least 75 home guard volunteers (45 with Delhi Traffic Police and 30 for boom barriers) for traffic management in Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Area w.e.f. 16 December, 2024. However, it is noted that even deployment of the home guards has failed to restrict access of motorized vehicle in the regulated zone since the boom barriers are either left open or are remaining unattended by the home guards,” the letter signed by Dhawan stated.

“As such, it is requested to personally intervene and plug the loopholes in the existing pattern of deployment vis-a-vis operationalisation of boom barriers. An action taken report may kindly be sent periodically so that that same is incorporated in the submission before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi,” Dhawan said in the letter.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner (City-SP Zone : MCD) had also requested to provide additional manpower to assist the zonal staff in enforcing the regulations to comply with the High Court directions to keep the stretch encroachment-free from illegall; loading or unloading; or unauthorised cycle rickshaws.

Coordination with Delhi Traffic Police and MCD to prevent all kinds of illegalities, whether encroachments or traffic violations, within the restricted area, as mandated by the Hon’ble High Court was subsequently requested in a letter dated December 17, 2024.

Sakshi Chand is working as an Assistant Editor with the Indian Express. She has over a decade of experience in covering crime, prisons, traffic and human interest stories. She has also covered the communal clashes in Kasganj, Aligarh, Trilokpuri riots as well as the North-East Delhi riots. Apart from being a journalist, she is also a National level basketball player and a coach. Before joining the Indian Express, she was working for The Times of India. … Read More

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