Delhi Government Renames Redevelopment Body and Prioritizes Chandni Chowk Upgrades
On Thursday, the Delhi government officially renamed the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation to the Indraprastha Virasat Punarvikas Nigam (IVPN) and approved a comprehensive redevelopment plan prioritizing the historic Chandni Chowk area. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired the corporation's annual general meeting, which focused on preserving Old Delhi's heritage while upgrading its civic infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister and corporation vice-chairman Ashish Sood, Managing Director Sandeep Kumar, and senior officials from the concerned departments. The newly renamed IVPN decided to give top priority to the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk, with the Chief Minister directing officials to ensure that the market's design reflects its historical identity, traditional character, and cultural significance.
To accommodate the lakhs of daily visitors, the Chief Minister directed the development of modern public toilet blocks and the establishment of a dedicated tourist control room in the market. Additionally, plans were made to develop organized parking facilities to improve access for visitors.
The redevelopment plan also includes major changes to the historic Town Hall. Chief Minister Gupta directed that a major entry and exit point be developed on the Chandni Chowk side to help the building emerge as a prominent heritage and tourism centre.
To ensure the preservation of the market's original architectural identity, the corporation will involve historians, heritage experts, and specialists in the planning process. The meeting also emphasized the need to safeguard the interests of local traders and shopkeepers to balance heritage conservation with commercial activity.
Beyond Chandni Chowk, the Chief Minister directed officials to prepare detailed blueprints for the redevelopment of the Hanuman Temple at Yamuna Bazaar, the Jama Masjid area, and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg in front of the Old Delhi Railway Station.
Old Delhi covers about 7.12 square kilometres and contains one World Heritage Site, 10 nationally protected monuments, 10 state-protected monuments, and more than 700 locally protected heritage sites.
