Walled City in Delhi to be restored, SRDC to be reconstituted: CM

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has affirmed that her government is fully committed to the beautification and planned redevelopment of Old Delhi, with a focus on restoring the heritage of the walled city.

According to the CM, major plans are being formulated for the holistic development of Old Delhi, which not only holds great historical significance but is also an important trade centre of the national capital.

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Gupta said that the government is making serious efforts to restore the historical and cultural heritage of the Old Delhi area, and to achieve this, the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) will soon be reconstituted.

The aim is to revive the Walled City’s traditional character and provide local residents and traders with improved civic amenities.

On Wednesday, the CM chaired a high-level meeting on this issue at the secretariat, which was attended by Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal, Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, and senior officials from the SRDC, PWD, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the Delhi Police.

It was unanimously agreed that the redevelopment and revitalisation of the Walled City is urgently required.

It is said that due to the gross negligence of the previous government, the condition of the area has deteriorated significantly, resulting in intensified challenges in the historic Chandni Chowk market area.

During the meeting, Khandelwal noted that the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation has become largely inactive, alleging that the previous regime did not prioritise the development of Old Delhi through it.

The MP recommended the reconstitution of the SRDC and proposed the inclusion of heritage and history experts alongside government officials, also suggesting that the corporation’s name be changed.

Sood emphasised the need to involve companies specialising in heritage conservation to ensure that the Walled City’s traditional character is restored. He also suggested that commercial activities within heritage structures should be restricted and that construction activities be halted to preserve the original look of the Chandni Chowk market.

CM Gupta pointed out that development in Chandni Chowk has been hampered because the area falls under the jurisdiction of three different government agencies, resulting in repeated delays.

She said the SRDC will be reconstituted soon, and development work in the Walled City will be undertaken through the revamped corporation, which will include qualified heritage conservation experts.

Gupta also emphasised the government’s commitment to improving facilities in the Chandni Chowk market, which attracts lakhs of visitors daily for shopping and tourism.

She directed officials to expedite improvement works in the area and instructed the authorities concerned to construct pink toilets to address the shortage of women’s facilities.