The Delhi High Court has directed the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to ensure completion of a parking lot at Gandhi Maidan in Chandni Chowk by September 2020.
A Bench comprising of Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Sanjeev Narula was hearing a petition filed by NGO Manushi Sangathan and others in 2007 on the issue of redevelopment of the Chandni Chowk and creation of lanes for non-motorised vehicles.
The Bench directed the Fire Department, the Delhi Urban Arts Commission, the Heritage Conservative Committee and other local authorities to give no objection certificates (NOC) for the ₹445-crore multi-level parking project by January 31, 2019.
Further, the Bench also directed the Environment Ministry to forthwith process the corporation’s application for getting environment clearance (EC) for the project and convey its decision to the municipal body by end of January next year.
The Bench said that the timelines mentioned for obtaining the NOC and EC be “strictly adhered to” so that the project is completed by September 2020.
The corporation had earlier told the court that the new structure will have six levels, including three underground floors. One floor will be reserved for commercial activities. This will create additional parking space for more than 2,500 cars in the Gandhi Maidan parking lot, situated adjacent to the Chandni Chowk metro station.
Currently, the parking lot can only accommodate 650 cars.
