Purna Singh New Delhi

Ina major push to preserve and revitalise the historic heart of the capital, the Delhi Government has renamed the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation as the Indraprastha Heritage Redevelopment Corporation (IVPN), broadening its mandate to conserve Delhi’s rich cultural and architectural legacy while upgrading civic infrastructure. The decision was taken at the corporation’s annual meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who said the initiative aims to transform Old Delhi into a world-class heritage destination without compromising its historical character.

The meeting, attended by Urban Development Minister and IVPN Vice-Chairperson Ashish Sood, Managing Director Sandeep Kumar and senior officials, outlined an ambitious roadmap covering heritage conservation, tourism promotion and infrastructure development.

The redevelopment of Chandni Chowk emerged as the government’s top priority. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that the market’s redesign preserves its historic identity, traditional layout and cultural essence while improving convenience for traders, shoppers and tourists. She stressed that every aspect of the project should reflect Chandni Chowk’s heritage and restore its original grandeur. To improve visitor experience, the government approved the construction of modern public toilet blocks and expansion of civic amenities in the bustling market, which attracts lakhs of visitors every day. Plans are also underway to establish a dedicated tourist control room offering information, navigation assistance and emergency support, along with organised parking facilities to reduce congestion.

The meeting also reviewed the redevelopment of the historic Town Hall, with directions to create a dedicated entrance and exit facing Chandni Chowk to enhance its appeal as a major heritage and tourism landmark. The Chief Minister emphasised that the interests of local traders and shopkeepers must be protected alongside heritage conservation.

Beyond Chandni Chowk, officials were asked to prepare redevelopment and beautification plans for the Hanuman Temple at Yamuna Bazaar, the Jama Masjid precinct, and the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg stretch outside the Old Delhi Railway Station.

Officials noted that Old Delhi, spread across 7.12 sq km with a history of over 350 years, is home to one UNESCO World Heritage Site, 10 centrally protected monuments, 10 state-protected monuments and more than 700 locally protected heritage sites. The government believes the redevelopment programme will boost tourism, improve civic infrastructure, strengthen local businesses and preserve Delhi’s historic legacy for future generations.