A year on, wait for Palika terrace revamp continues

New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is yet to complete the beautification of the terrace above Palika Bazar, over a year after work started at the site.
The facility was to be inaugurated by Aug 15, but some work is pending.
The project, across approximately three acres, includes a renovated terrace with a granite pathway for walking or jogging, light poles for illumination, a lawn and planters in the middle.
A shopkeeper in Palika Bazar said that the lights were installed and grass was planted some time back to cover the majority of the terrace area. "But the work of installing stones is still pending at places. Also, during monsoon, the grass was overgrown and these need to be taken care of," the trader said.
On being questioned, an NDMC official said: "The proposal of a new terrace garden consists of composite work of civil, electrical and horticulture for landscaping, development and beautification of the area. We have to complete some work which will take another 15 days. Thereafter, as soon as the inauguration date is finalised, a finishing look will also be given to the site," the official said.
The officials had earlier said that a provision for LED step lights has been made on footpaths for better visibility in the evening, and the lawn was created for people to sit and relax. Stainless steel railings have been installed for safety, and saplings have been planted to enhance greenery.
The work for reviving the terrace garden was initiated due to the problem of continuous seepage in the underground shopping complex. In 2020-21, NDMC carried out waterproofing treatment on the terrace by dismantling the terrace garden. The waterproofing was completed last year, and landscaping work began soon after the architecture department prepared the drawings. The tender was called in the middle of last year.
A trader, however, said that there was some leakage near gates 3, 4, and 5. An official said that these were functional issues and would be resolved.
The renovation work at Palika Bazar beneath the terrace garden is also pending for some time. Traders said that after the last inspection in Feb, no progress has been reported. "Incomplete work for the false ceiling is giving a shoddy look to the market. The contractor was probably removed after the quality was not satisfying," a shopkeeper said.
Constructed in the late 1970s, Palika Bazar, the first underground air-conditioned market in the city, is located between the inner and outer circles of Connaught Place.
After the Covid lockdown, NDMC started repairs to address various issues, including seepage, non-functional toilet blocks and waterlogging.
Subsequently, in February, Amit Yadav and former NDMC vice-chairman Satish Upadhyay visited the site. During the visit, it was concluded that pending tasks will be taken care of soon.