After strongly rejecting the New Delhi Municipal Council's proposed "three-loop' traffic system last year for being "impractical', the New Delhi Traders' Association has suggested an improvised plan based on the existing pattern to solve chronic traffic problems ailing the heart of the Capital. According to NDTA president Atul Bhargav, the plan has been submitted to the NDMC and Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S. N. Shrivastava in March, but it is yet to be approved. Mr. Shrivastava said: "The minimal changes suggested by NDTA that do not affect the overall existing plan in Connaught Place would be considered. For now we have decided to go ahead with the existing traffic circulation plan which was implemented after discussions with RITES and NDMC and is going well.' At present there are three incoming and three outgoing radial roads in Connaught Place with clockwise movement in both the Inner and Outer Circles. According to the improvised plan, the NDTA has suggested exits at Panchkuian Road and Minto Road through two slip roads on the right. It has also suggested entry into the Inner Circle from Radial Road No.6 at Old Nirula's instead of the present exit. Barakhamba Road has been recommended as a through exit point for vehicular traffic since NDTA believes that it would enable people to exit without disturbing Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Janpath and ensure minimum traffic jams in Connaught Place. The plan also seeks to retain the present entry from Janpath and exit from Baba Kharak Singh Marg as well as the entry from Plaza cinema. According to the NDTA, ever since the existing traffic plan for Connaught Place was put in place in July 2006, the shopkeepers, traders as well as the five petrol pump owners in Connaught Place have been suffering a substantial loss in business owing to traffic bottlenecks. "The improvised plan mooted by us would be beneficial to all involved including traders, customers, shopkeepers and petrol pump owners and is the only way out to end the traffic chaos in Connaught Place,' Mr. Bhargav said, adding "There is enough parking space available in Connaught Place, but there is a need to streamline it. We have suggested roping in an international parking solution consultant from Malaysia and we have also suggested utilisation of Palika Parking for office-goers.' Under the NDMC's "three-loop system', traffic restrictions were planned in such a way as to ensure closure of through traffic in the Inner Circle and where incoming traffic from Janpath would take a right turn and move out from Barakhamba Road and so on for other radial roads. This plan, however, was not officially submitted to the traffic police by the NDMC. Meanwhile, in the face of resistance and safeguarding of stakeholder interests, the civic body has decided to postpone the traffic management plan to the last phase of the re-development of the Connaught Place project instead of taking it up in the first phase. NDMC spokesperson Anand Kumar Tiwari said: "We plan to keep negotiating with all stakeholders and the traffic department till the most practical solution is found. Our main concern is ensuring easy access for traffic as well as pedestrians in Connaught Place.'