Here’s one good news as the mercury keeps up the heat. You might soon get to shop in a centrally air-conditioned Connaught Place as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) plans to install a unique ‘district cooling system’ as part of the first phase of redeveloping the heritage area.

The civic body has now invited expressions of interest from interested parties to assess whether such a technology is available in India to carry out a large-scale project like air-conditioning a whole business district.

District cooling system is a water-based central air-conditioning system and, when installed, will be the first of its kind in the country, officials said.

“The water-based system has earlier been used in many places in the United States and in Dubai. It will regulate warm or cool temperature across all blocks in CP, depending on weather conditions,” said Ramesh Raina, Director (civil engineering department), NDMC. 

Officials at Engineers India Limited (EIL), the civic agency’s consultant for the project, said the cooling system will not only consume less energy but also reduce pollution in surrounding areas. An expert from EIL said, “Almost all offices and shops in Delhi use window air-conditioners and coolers due to the adverse climate conditions and high temperatures in the Capital. These consume high energy and also pollute the surrounding areas.

“As per our new plan, shopkeepers will only have to install indoor units, which will be connected to the central chilling plant.”

The central plant is proposed to be located on one side of Minto Road.

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