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Government plans comprehensive heritage renewal while improving infrastructure, tourism and public accessibility across precincts.
The BJP-led Delhi government has announced an ambitious plan to redevelop Old Delhi, with Chandni Chowk and its surrounding heritage precincts at the centre of the project. The initiative aims to transform the historic area into a world-class heritage and tourism destination while preserving its architectural, cultural and historical legacy.
As part of the plan, the government will redevelop the area around the iconic Town Hall and create a major new entry and exit point from the Chandni Chowk side to improve accessibility and visitor movement. The project will also cover the comprehensive redevelopment of the entire Chandni Chowk area.
Spread over nearly 7.12 square kilometres, Old Delhi is more than 350 years old and is home to one UNESCO World Heritage Site, 10 nationally protected monuments, 10 state-protected monuments and more than 700 locally protected heritage structures. With lakhs of people visiting the area every day for business, shopping, religious activities and tourism, the government believes its redevelopment is vital for heritage conservation as well as economic growth and tourism development.
Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood said the redevelopment would not be limited to infrastructure upgrades but would also focus on protecting Old Delhi’s historical, cultural and architectural character. Historians, heritage conservationists, architects and other experts will be involved in planning and executing the project to ensure that the area’s traditional identity is preserved alongside modern civic facilities.
The redevelopment blueprint was approved earlier this week at the Annual General Meeting of the newly renamed Indraprastha Virasat Punarvikas Nigam (IVPN)chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The corporation was recently renamed from the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation to reflect the government’s broader vision for conserving and revitalising Old Delhi.
The Chief Minister said the corporation had begun a comprehensive effort to preserve Old Delhi’s historic identity while equipping the area with modern civic infrastructure. She directed officials to accord the highest priority to the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk and ensure that its design reflects the market’s historical identity, traditional character and cultural significance.
She also directed officials to develop modern public toilets and strengthen civic infrastructure in Chandni Chowk to accommodate the lakhs of daily visitors. Gupta said the redevelopment must protect the interests of traders, residents, tourists and shoppers while restoring the market’s historic character. She further ordered the establishment of a dedicated tourist facilitation centre, improved parking facilities, and the preparation of redevelopment plans for the Hanuman Temple at Yamuna Bazaar, the Jama Masjid precinct and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg.
Emphasising an integrated approach, Gupta said the project would combine heritage conservation with modern infrastructure, tourism promotion, traffic management and solid waste management. She added that the initiative seeks to preserve Delhi’s historic legacy while transforming Old Delhi into a world-class heritage destination that benefits residents, traders and visitors alike.
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