Authorities have begun a special anti-encroachment near various metro stations in Delhi as the national capital prepares to host the G20 summit in September.
On Monday, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) started a comprehensive week-long drive in areas abutting Lal Quila and Chandni Chowk metro stations, officials said.
The multi-agency drive in the densely populated areas involves the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, NDMC, Delhi Development Authority and Delhi Police, and will be staggered over the next few days to ensure commuters do not face any hassle in accessing metro stations, they said.
The drive near gates no. 1 and 2 of the Lal Quila metro station and gate no 5 of Chandni Chowk metro station began on Monday and will be conducted daily till June 17, 2023.
It has been observed that encroachments by parking of selling carts ('rehris'), vending objects, rickshaws, and other unauthorised establishments outside metro stations cause inconvenience to passengers at these locations. This drive is being taken up to mitigate these inconveniences, the DMRC said.
It said it also keeps writing to agencies concerned about these issues from time to time.
Such special drives will also be undertaken for passenger convenience at other Delhi Metro stations in the days ahead, the officials said.
In May also, the DMRC had undertaken a special drive at 11 metro stations to clear pedestrian pathways of vendors, encroachers, and unauthorised hindrances caused by the movement of e-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and others.
The DMRC has accorded a lot of focus on maintaining cleanliness, hygiene and disciplined commuter behaviour inside the Delhi Metro premises, the official said.
These drives are now being organised to ensure that the areas outside the stations are also free from any form of encroachments, he said.
Several other agencies in Delhi have also been undertaking anti-encroachment drives as part of a larger plan to spruce up the city for the mega G20 event in September.
A state-of-the-art convention centre is coming up as part of the Pragati Maidan redevelopment project. This will be the venue for the G20 Leaders' Summit set to take place in Delhi on September 9-10.
