Officials said the system will be operational throughout the day and suitable arrangements will also be made in case of breakdown. According to NDMC officials, traders will have to pay a monthly fee for maintenance of the cooling system but the civic body is yet to fix an amount.

But traders in the market are not too sure about how the proposed cooling system will work. “The concept sounds good but we are not very sure of its practicality,” Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders’ Association, said. “As far as we know, the centralised plant will be located at Minto Road. But how will pipes maintain the temperature while water is being distributed through them to various blocks in CP?”

Bhargava also said the charges to be levied by NDMC will also “determine whether we want such a system”.

What is district cooling system?
* Distributes thermal energy (mostly chilled water) from a central source to multiple buildings through a network of underground pipes
* Cooling or heat rejection is usually provided from a central cooling plant, thus eliminating need for separate systems in individual buildings
* Consists of three primary components: central plant, distribution network and consumer system
* Central plant may include the cooling equipment, power generation and thermal storage
* Distribution or piping network is often the most expensive portion and needs careful design to optimise use
* Consumer system usually comprises air-handling units and chilled water piping in the building