Gurgaon's Sadar Bazar to try vehicle-free transformation again

Gurgaon: After seven years and two unsuccessful trials, the plan to make Sadar Bazar a pedestrian-only zone is being revived. The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) aims to prohibit all vehicles, including motorcycles and cars from traders and customers. In a meeting on Monday, MCG's additional commissioner, Mahavir Prasad, instructed officials to clear out any illegal encroachments and find parking spaces nearby. An official announcement about the pedestrianisation will be made after a progress review on April 7. The proposed changes may involve restricted delivery times for shops and the introduction of e-rickshaws in the market area. However, the final decision will depend on the complete approval of the plan. Traders have expressed concerns about the new restrictions. Roshan Lal Mangla from the Sadar Bazar association stated that the MCG should focus on clearing encroachments rather than banning two-wheeler access. He mentioned that many traders rely on two-wheelers for transporting goods and cash. In 2021, MCG conducted two trials to test vehicle restrictions, which received positive feedback from visitors and shopkeepers. They created more parking spaces, banned cars, and allowed two-wheelers during these trials, which included a section made completely vehicle-free. MCG even received recognition in January 2022 for its efforts to make the market more pedestrian-friendly, winning an award from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Despite this success, the authority has struggled to implement the pedestrian scheme permanently.