Delhi is also making serious attempts to check traffic levels on its congested roads, with the aim of cutting air pollution ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Breathing Delhi's air is estimated to be equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day and much of the smog is caused by traffic. To help reduce pollution and congestion, Delhi's planners have brought forward plans for bus-only lanes and overground light rail lines.
But motorists have been incensed by the go ahead to redesign 107.8km of roads so that only half the space ends up available for cars. On these corridors, the highway will be partitioned by dividers giving a quarter of the road space to cyclists and the rest to buses.
"This is completely unfair. Ninety-five percent of the users get half the space. While cyclists who comprise of 0.82 percent of the users get a quarter of the road. It's nuts," said Sanjay Kaul, president of Paople's Action, a residents' group.
"The scheme would never have got off the ground if it were not for the Commonwealth Games. The city bureaucrats are desperate to show they can get people out of cars," he said.
There has also been an outbreak of "nimbyism" by residents in posh part of south Delhi over a new 3km stretch of the metro system which is designed to travel on elevated railway tracks. A number of groups have complained that passengers would be able to "peep into people's bedrooms."
Lalit Bhanot, the secretary of the Commonwealth Games organizing committee, told the Guardian that the economic effects of renewing the city would trickle down to "the common man." He said that currently Delhi suffers power cuts every day.
"This affects every person. But by October 2010, Delhi will have a surplus of power and no electricity blackouts. That is going to be a real benefit and thanks to Commonwealth Games," Bhanot said.
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