NDMC Gole Market Museum Project Delayed to September 2026
The New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) project to restore the historic Gole Market and convert it into a museum has faced nearly two decades of delays, with the completion deadline now pushed back to September 2026. Located near Connaught Place in New Delhi, the 1921 heritage landmark was originally slated for completion ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but it remains unfinished due to legal battles, changing plans, and procedural delays.
The project first received administrative approval in September 2006 with an initial financial sanction of Rs 6.3 crore. NDMC awarded the project in June 2009 at a revised cost of Rs 7.7 crore, setting a deadline of August 2010 to turn the circular Grade-II heritage building into a museum showcasing Delhi's history.
However, the building was declared unsafe in 2007, prompting a six-year legal battle with local traders who opposed relocation. The Delhi High Court ruled in NDMC's favour in 2013 after the council assured that the structure would be converted into a museum. Some traders pursued the matter further and vacated only by 2016.
Over the years, the project underwent multiple budget and plan revisions. A fresh conservation estimate raised the cost to Rs 18.1 crore, followed by a Rs 20.9 crore proposal in 2018, and a Rs 26.7 crore plan in 2020 that included a pedestrian subway. Work finally commenced in October 2023 after approvals from the Delhi Urban Art Commission and the Heritage Conservation Committee.
Currently, about 45 percent of the work is complete. Civil work is underway to install vertical iron slabs to strengthen the dome, and construction of a Rs 1.9 crore subway near Bhai Vir Singh Marg is progressing slowly. The target deadline has repeatedly slipped from October 2025 to March 2026, then May 2026, and now September 2026.
The prolonged delay has severely impacted local businesses. Narayan Shamnani, president of the Gole Market Merchants’ Association, noted that footfall dropped by 50 percent after litigation began. Out of the original 62 shops, only 25 remain operational today, with shopkeepers reporting issues with dust and rodents due to the ongoing construction.
NDMC vice-chairperson Kuljeet Chahal attributed the delays to contractor issues, procedural clearances, and changes in the project's scope, which was expanded to include an art gallery alongside the museum. Once completed, the site is expected to feature a glass dome over the central courtyard, galleries, a cafeteria, a souvenir shop, and office space.
