Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk road has been declared a non-motorised zone. The 1.3 km stretch was envisioned as a pedestrian-only road, but an official word on the plan was pending. The transport department has now declared the road stretching from the Red Fort to the Fatehpuri Masjid as a non-motorised zone.

As per the notification, no motor vehicle will be allowed on the Chandni Chowk road between 9 am to 9 pm on all days. The notification will allow a range of reforms planned by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), the nodal agency for the redevelopment of the heritage market, officials said.

The restrictions will only be relaxed for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire tenders, vehicles carrying patients as well as maintenance and enforcement vehicles.

The construction work had stopped due to pandemic-related restrictions and the deadline was revised to March 2021. Construction activity resumed during the first phase of relaxations on the lockdown. “Work on streetlights, CCTV and signage on the main stretch is currently on. Work on building toilets and police post is also going on. Both should be ready by July 31. Besides, work has begun on one half of the Red Fort crossing,” said Nitin Panigrahi, deputy general manager, SRDC.