NSSCDCL begins survey for ‘vehicle-free’ Buldi Main Rd
   Date :23-Sep-2020

Mahesh Moroney nd_1 
 Mahesh Moroney, CEO of NSSCDCL; Parag Potey, Police Inspector (Traffic), Dr Pranita Umredkar and others during the survey of Sitabuldi market main road.
 
Staff Reporter :
 
New proposal under ‘Street for People’ concept
 
 
IF EVERYTHING goes as planned, Sitabuldi market main road may become ‘vehicle-free’ in future. Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) has started a survey in this regard and interacted with shop-keepers as well as citizens/consumers. The survey will be conducted for seven days, during which NSSCDCL will collect opinion of the shop-keepers and people on making Sitabuldi market main road ‘vehicle-free’.
 
The initiative is based on ‘Street for People’ concept. ‘Street for People’ is an idea mooted by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). NSSCDCL has already participated in another concept of MoHUA, ‘India Cycles4Change Challenge’, under which 18-km long bicycle track is proposed to be developed. Sitabuldi main market will be surveyed for seven consecutive days for selection in the ‘Street for People’ pilot project. Mahesh Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of NSSCDCL, launched the survey in this regard. Parag Potey, Police Inspector (Traffic); Dr Pranita Umredkar, Deepanti Pal, Bicycle Mayor of city, and others accompanied Moroney during the interaction with shop-keepers and citizens. The survey was conducted on the occasion of ‘World Car Free Day’.
 
Moroney asked the shopkeepers about likely effect on their business if entry of vehicles in Sitabuldi market was banned. He also sought to know from citizens whether they would be able to walk to the shops in the market, if their vehicles were not allowed. He told the citizens that making Sitabuldi market main road ‘vehicle-free’ would benefit hawkers also. Arrangement for parking of four and two-wheelers would be made at some place else than market, he added during the interaction. Some of the citizens pointed out that if the main road was made completely ‘vehicle-free’ then it might pose problems for elder persons and women. To this, Moroney replied that in that case e-rickshaws could be arranged for them.
 
Bicycles, a non-polluting option, could be arranged for the youth. Efforts are underway to give a facelift to Sitabuldi market. While doing so, citizens will be consulted, he assured. Shopkeepers will be allowed to bring goods to their shops at night. Further action will be taken after taking into account the feedback and suggestions of people, he added. M Chandak Company, Khadi and Village Industries outlet, Gopichand Ambhore, President of Hawkers’ Union, also registered their participation in the survey. Kodape, Assistant Inspector of Police; Amit Shirpurkar, Dr Parag Armal, Dr Sandeep Narnaware, Amruta Deshkar, Gaurav Ugemuge, Apurva Fadnavis and others helped in the survey.