How safe is Connaught Place?

MiD DAY finds out that easy access to roofs of shopping arcade can spell trouble

The view was spellbinding. It seemed like a UFO with tall illuminated columns with a white circular disk in the middle.

Connaught Place dons a different personality altogether in the night. But, when you realise the ease with which you were able to climb the roof of the arcade, things start worrying you especially when there are inputs that terrorists may strike at crowded markets.u00a0


Most of the terraces to the various buildings at the circular shopping
and office complex have unguarded, open entry through staircases

It was 9:42 pm and to run a reality check, MiD DAY reached B-block, on the inner circle, and was able to reach the terrace freely. There was no guard or policeman around. This correspondent took the staircase close to a renowned handloom shop and was able to reach the terrace within a few seconds.

Most of the terraces to the various arcades at the circular shopping and office complex have unguarded, open entry through staircases. If a terrorist gains entry to the terrace, apart from the people present in the various offices and shops in the building, he can easily target the high-rise buildings around Connaught Place.

The security arrangements by the Delhi Police may be sufficient on the ground but hundreds of electric generators on the terrace may spell doom for one of the most sought after markets in the city.

Atul Bhargava, President, New Delhi Traders Association, said special security arrangements should be made for Connaught Place and the high-rise building around it. "The staircases leading to the terrace of the shops can surely be misused by terrorists. After few reminders to the authorities, most of the staircases were closed but few are still open leaving a void in the security."

The police, however, assured that special care would be taken to secure the terrace of buildings in and around Connaught Place. "We have taken all possible security measures and will continuously be on our guard. Now, we will ensure that strangers should not be allowed on the terrace," a senior police official said.