G20: no money to beautify Delhi's Connaught Place? Tussle between NDMC, traders

Even as the Narendra Modi government tries to showcase India's G20 presidency as a major diplomatic achievement, beautification efforts in the national capital for G20 world events are facing challenges.

The New Delhi Municipal Council's plan to beautify Connaught Place, the heart of the city, is stalled for several months over the issue of funding, officials said on 13 March 2023.

The NDMC had asked traders to fund renovations, but they refused, saying that money collected as taxes should be used. The council said that it cannot fund the renovation as "it is not their market".

The entire renovation would cost around Rs 10 crore, an NDMC official said, adding that various proposals are being discussed to get funds which include CSR funding from private organisations and sponsorship.

"We were looking to refurbish all the markets in our area in view of G20 events including NDMC's markets like Begum Zaidi. But we cannot use public money for the renovation of CP market. We asked the traders to fund the beautification of the market but they have refused," said the NDMC official.

"It is also clear that NDMC cannot do the renovation. So we are looking at other ways of funding," he added.

(With PTI inputs)

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