New Delhi: Around six years ago, New Delhi Municipal Council installed escalators at busy intersections in the Connaught Place area, including some spots in Outer Circle, and in other locations in Lutyens’ Delhi. In recent years, many of these escalators have been non-operational, either lying broken or damaged or their parts missing due to thefts.
Eyebrows have been raised at this because NDMC claims to have installed hundreds of CCTV cameras and created a control and command centre for the smooth management of its services. “So many escalators in Outer Circle are not working because plates and other accessories have been stolen,” claimed Atul Bhargava, president, New Delhi Traders’ Association, the market body. “Many people now prefer to use the zebra crossings instead of risking the subways.”
The installation of 22 escalators in CP was taken up in 2017-18 under the Smart City Mission. On Monday, TOI found escalators connecting M Block with Super Bazar, N Block with Barakhamba Road and at the Kasturba Gandhi Marg intersection inoperative. Ashok Gupta complained that despite being the capital city, Delhi wasn’t easy for drivers and pedestrians. At the busy Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital roundabout, TOI found the escalator connecting with the footbridge on Mother Teresa Road that provided patients and hospital visitors a safe passage was not only broken but only its skeleton was left after everything else was stolen. Even the lift installed there for the benefit of patients was in an unusable condition with all its parts purloined. Only the damaged glass doors appeared intact.
“Open or partly damaged and unguarded escalators invite unwanted elements. One frequently finds people relieving themselves in the subways with these non-operational escalators. People, especially female pedestrians, therefore, avoid using them and choose to take the road, which actually is not a safe option and also causes impediments for road users. I fail to understand the point of spending so much money on these things if they are left to fall into disrepair.”
In Feb, following innumerable complaints for about a year, NDMC took cognisance of the matter. After rounds of visits by then vice-chairman Satish Upadhyay, the civic body took up some repairs to ensure escalators linking subways in Connaught Place and adjoining areas become operational again. It also coordinated with the local police to check the theft of escalator items, cleaned the installations and decided to depute security staff in three shifts for 75 days. But as a shop owner alleged, “Though some work was carried out, most things were left unattended to. Unlike others, NDMC doesn’t have a funds crunch, so why aren’t they dealing with the problem urgently?”
Asked about the matter, an NDMC official said that they had prepared an estimate for the year-round upkeep of these escalators after receiving repeated complaints. “The estimates are in the final stage of approval, and based on that, the process for repair and changing of faulty parts will be taken up. So far, NDMC has been maintaining them on its own and also reporting any theft of parts to the local police,” said the official.
