Transforming Sadar Bazar

“Pedestrianisation of a street” is prioritising the needs of people walking and cycling, taking away streets from vehicles and giving it back to people reclaiming spaces meant for public use. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, have been guiding various activities under ‘Streets For People’ Challenge along with partners at national level. Sadar Bazar, Gurugram is one such market street that experiences high footfall and belongs to pedestrians first. Ensuring green recovery from the COVID crisis, the city of Gurugram, has also registered among 113 other cities for the national Challenge. As a part of the initiative, Municipal Corporation of Gurugram is implementing quick, innovative, and low-cost interventions to make city-streets walkable, with a focus on place-making and liveability.
Gurugram is conducting a week-long “Pedestrianisation Trial” in Sadar Bazaar Market Street and a School Zone in the neighbourhood. This would mean cordoning-off the stretch of motor vehicles in the 600m market street along with adjoining school-zone. With the temporary interventions, the streets shall become more welcoming to a large number of pedestrians enabling an inclusive experience for all age-groups and backgrounds. The transformation of the area would be beneficial for every stakeholder, from visitors and shoppers, to residents and those for whom the market is a workplace.
The focus of the trial will be on providing public convenience in the market and its neighbourhood by traffic management, public space design and engagement activities. The week-long Trial begins with programmed activities on Friday, 26th February 2021. The event is being organised by the MCG and Gurugram Traffic Police in partnership with WRI India and Raahgiri Foundation, with support from City Sabha, Daisaria Associates, Sehreeti Development Practices Foundation, and Studio Earthworm. Market users can experience various activities and local art like Street Theatre, Community Exhibition – Learn about the history of the area, Local Storytelling – traditional Chaupal experience, Song and dance, Street Art, Shopping and eating, walking and cycling, Street games, Street-Workout, Flash Mob, Road Safety Awareness, Women’s Safety Awareness, Swacchta Awareness (from the Swachh Bharat Mission initiative in the city). The stretch will also witness Raahgiri Day on 26th February, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Community engagement is key to garnering results from such a transformation. The public is invited to join their city’s initiative for a street experience like never before – to shop, play, eat, and socialise and to become part of a historical initiative in the oldest market street of Gurugram. Suitable arrangements would also be made for comfortable access and commute of market users who are elderly, children and persons with disabilities. For the success of the trial, it is abiding that drivers follow the updated parking plan enabling people undertaking active mobility to reclaim the market street.