{"id":10415,"date":"2012-06-15T06:18:00","date_gmt":"2012-06-15T06:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/2012\/06\/connaught-place-open-letter-to\/"},"modified":"2018-06-04T17:03:52","modified_gmt":"2018-06-04T17:03:52","slug":"connaught-place-open-letter-to","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/connaught-place-open-letter-to\/","title":{"rendered":"Connaught Place-An Open Letter to Chairperson-NDMC"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\nTo, <\/p>\n

The Chairperson
\nNew Delhi Municipal Council
\nNew Delhi <\/p>\n

Madam, <\/p>\n

Reference-CONNAUGHT PLACE [CP] <\/p>\n

Considering the present state of CP, it is with great anguish, dismay,disappointment but with big hope, I, the first & only [ex] Project Manager (Connaught Place am addressing this Open Letter to you ). <\/b><\/p>\n

My queries are as under pl—- <\/p>\n

-Why Connaught Place- the prestigious shopping centre of the capital of India, is in such a big mess today?
\n-Why sizable portion of this heritage market-the so far, tourist attraction, has become traders\/ shoppers\/ visitors, nightmare?
\n-Why various redevelopment works are going on and on and on?
\n-Who is the authority [one window], on behalf of NDMC, who is managing Connaught place?
\n-To whom should various stakeholders in Connaught Place, turn to, in case of any grievance?
\n-What is the date of completion of various works going on, in this area?
\n-What is the status of Bar Charts, which indicate the progress of various works in progress?
\n-Is any Critical path Method[CPM] being used to achieve the desired progress with proper planning, design execution & quality-control? <\/p>\n

-What sort of incentives\/ punitive measures are introduced in the system\/ redevelopment process to motivate\/ educate\/ take punitive actions, which are imperative, in case of repeated defaults, for the consultants , staff, contractors, when works are executed in sensitive areas? <\/p>\n

As the things, are at the moment, as observed at the various sites, the state of planning\/ execution , you will also agree, is not satisfactory, at places, it is DISMAL!<\/p>\n

\n
\nAs a city- professional, I feel highly concerned & will request that NDMC \u2013my own ORGANISATION, need to kindly introspect & take immediate corrective measures, to arrest the declining state of affairs in Connaught Place, put the execution process on an even keel & redeem its reputation, as an efficient local body, which of late, is loosing its luster! <\/b><\/p>\n

You may ask, Madam, -why am I so concerned?
\nWell—– <\/p>\n

My name is Vijay K. Saluja. I superannuated as Chief Engineer[civil] of New Delhi Municipal Council on 31 st May, 2004 after serving NDMC for more than thirty four years. I had joined this civic body in 1969, after obtaining my degree in civil engineering from Indian Institute of Technology New Delhi. <\/p>\n

I happened to be the first & only Project Manager [Connaught place]. This special post was created in 1988, by NDMC after vigorous follow up by New Delhi Traders Association, with the various higher authorities. <\/b><\/p>\n

I, remained on this position till December 1990.Thereafter, this post was abolished by NDMC!?<\/b>
\nI, have, thus, a very close emotional\/ professional bond with this area, in particular. <\/b><\/p>\n

During the period 1989-1990, the maintenance & redevelopment of Connaught Place & its surrounding areas was applauded & appreciated, so many times by New Delhi Traders Association, the then Chief Executive Councillor, the media, the then LG, & the New Delhi Municipal Council itself & the concerned staff was duly commended by NDTA & the NDMC itself, for doing good job! <\/p>\n

.The NDMC after being happy with the work of Project Manager[CP}, by its own decisions\/ resolutions, gave more responsibilities of the other departments-electrical, horticulture, garbage management, enforcement etc, to the Project Manager who initially was to only look after the civil engineering works of Connaught Place area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Attractions in connaught place delhi : Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar, Hanuman Mandir, Bangla Sahib…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\nThe green space above Palika Parking was adjudged the best maintained green space in NDMC in 1989-1990 & was awarded prizes.Very close co-ordination was kept with all the stakeholders in this area. Inspections on foot, of the various segments of CP were, then done on regular basis, with staff & the representatives of nine to ten Traders Associations, operating in the jurisdiction of Project Manager[Connaught Place]. <\/b>Their genuine grievances were immediately attended to & cordiality was at its best. Cultural functions were also organized on regular basis in the central park of CP, to bring verve & vitality, in this area!<\/p>\n

Connaught Place presented an immaculate look with so many redevelopment works continuing without any hinderance to any user\/ visitor to this prestigous shopping centre of the capital of Delhi & completed almost in time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connaught Place – the heart of Delhi<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\nAll these activities\/events as stated above, are\/ were duly documented., if you may kindly like to verify, as you have joined NDMC, recently & the said documents also formed part of civil writ petition NO CWP 5176\/1993 in the case V.K Saluja vs NDMC & others in the Delhi High Court, filed in 1993. I won the case in 2001 when the hon`ble court ruled in my favor.<\/p>\n

The present state of affairs in CP, thus disturbs me in many ways?
\nMany questions spring to my mind & I, really wonder what has gone wrong with NDMC?
\nWhy so much apathy, even when things have gone so bad?
\nIs the chairperson not getting the right advice\/persons\/contracors\/consultants or wrong choices have been made??
\nIf yes, then why right \/really committed & skilled persons were\/are not being deployed\/engaged? <\/p>\n

If the present ones, need skill upgradation, then why these are not being first trained & then put on the field jobs <\/p>\n

My professional instincts, impel me to request you, that some well-thought out measures with strict coordination & monitoring process, need to be taken immediately to arrest the declining professional status of my `own` civil engineering department & the local body of which I have been an integral part, for many many years & take suitable immediate actions to bring back the glory to Connaught Place whom all Delhites, in particular, adore. <\/p>\n

Constraints, if any need to be addressed, without delay…<\/p>\n

There is no harm in having an Advisory Committee consisting of really committed competent, skilled & `passionate about work`- professionals with excellent track-record of impeccable integrity & good performance, whose hearts beat for the city & its citizens, to advise the Chairperson. <\/p>\n

There is very BIG scope of improvement in NDMC area with optimum utilization of available funds? <\/p>\n

I hope, you, Madam, will take my letter in right spirit, respond to\/ think about, my queries in a positive way & take as well, immediate needed \/suitable measures in bringing Connaught Place to its earlier state-the best shopping centre of Delhi nay India., where in, its every stakeholders is happy & proud to trade, shop, work & visit without hassles of any kind. <\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\nBesides, area under NDMC jurisdiction-the pride of India needs attention, on many counts, on sustainable basis. <\/p>\n

I am sure, you can & hope, will take adequate steps, to do it! <\/p>\n

With warm regards & best wishes,
\nVijay K. Saluja <\/b><\/div>\n

\nEx first & only Project Manager[CP]-NDMC
-Senior Fellow[urban studies]
\nInstitute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
\n-Ex Chief Engineer[civil],New Delhi Municipal Council
\n& Ex President, IIT Delhi Alumni Association <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To, The Chairperson New Delhi Municipal Council New Delhi Madam, Reference-CONNAUGHT PLACE Considering the present state of CP, it is with great anguish, dismay,disappointment but with big hope, I, the first & only Project Manager (Connaught Place am addressing this Open Letter to you ). My queries are as under pl—- -Why Connaught Place- the prestigious shopping centre of the capital of India, is in such a big mess today? -Why sizable portion of this heritage market-the so far, tourist attraction, has become traders\/ shoppers\/ visitors, nightmare? -Why various redevelopment works are going on and on and on? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92,508,1],"tags":[162,1879,67],"class_list":["post-10415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-better-india","category-problems-and-issues","category-update","tag-appeal","tag-update","tag-views","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10415"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42070,"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10415\/revisions\/42070"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dwarkaparichay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}