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Delhi Government has taken an important step towards restoring the historical, cultural and architectural heritage of Old Delhi to its original glory. The government has changed the name of Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, formed for the conservation and redevelopment of Old Delhi, to 'Indraprastha Heritage Redevelopment Corporation' (IVPN).

According to the Chief Minister's Office, CM Rekha Gupta said that the Corporation has launched a comprehensive and focused initiative to equip Old Delhi with modern civic amenities while preserving its historical identity.

Under this initiative, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Indraprastha Heritage Redevelopment Corporation (IVPN) was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Urban Development Minister and Vice Chairman of the Corporation Ashish Sood, Managing Director Sandeep Kumar and senior officials of the concerned departments attended the meeting.

Important decisions taken in the meeting

During this period, many important decisions were taken regarding comprehensive redevelopment of Old Delhi, heritage conservation, expansion of civic infrastructure and promotion of tourism. In the meeting, it was decided to give top priority to the redevelopment of historic Chandni Chowk.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure that the design of the market reflects its historical identity, traditional nature and cultural significance. Keeping in mind the movement of lakhs of people through this area every day, he also directed to develop modern and functional public toilet blocks and further strengthen the civic amenities.

Reviewing the redevelopment of the historic Town Hall, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta directed that a prominent entry and exit should also be developed from the Chandni Chowk side so that the building can emerge as a major heritage and tourism centre.

It was also decided that historians, heritage experts and experts from related fields will also be involved in the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk and surrounding heritage areas so that the original historical form and architectural identity of the market is preserved.

The meeting also stressed the need to protect the interests of local traders and shopkeepers so that a balance is maintained between heritage conservation and commercial activities.

Keeping in mind the convenience of the visitors, the Chief Minister also directed that a dedicated control room be set up in the market to provide information, guidance and prompt assistance to the tourists coming from within the country and abroad. Special emphasis was also laid on developing organized parking facilities to make access and vehicle parking more convenient for visitors.

Redevelopment plan will be expanded

The Chief Minister further directed the officials to prepare a detailed blueprint for the comprehensive development of the Hanuman Temple at Yamuna Bazaar and the area behind it as part of the larger redevelopment project. He also directed to prepare a comprehensive redevelopment and beautification plan for Jama Masjid area and Syama Prasad Mukherjee Marg in front of Old Delhi Railway Station.

Emphasis will be on overall development

It was also emphasized in the meeting that the development of Old Delhi should not be limited to physical infrastructure only. Instead, heritage conservation, promotion of tourism, economic activity, civic amenities and environmental balance should be pursued through an integrated approach.

With this objective, Indraprastha Heritage Redevelopment Corporation (IVPN) will pursue heritage conservation along with modern urban development. The initiative will include conservation of historical buildings, modernization of infrastructure, solid waste management, traffic management, expansion of tourism facilities and other related aspects.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that Delhi's historical heritage is not only a part of the city's cultural identity but is also a priceless heritage for the coming generations. He said that development works should be done in such a way that the historical identity, traditional form and architectural beauty of Old Delhi is preserved.

He said that heritage conservation and modern development should go hand in hand so that local residents, traders and visitors can benefit from better facilities, while Old Delhi establishes a new identity as a world-class heritage area.

Officials told in the meeting that Old Delhi is spread over an area of ​​about 7.12 square kilometers. This historic city, over 350 years old, is home to a World Heritage Site, 10 Nationally Protected Monuments, 10 State Protected Monuments and over 700 locally protected heritage sites. Every day millions of people visit the region for shopping, business, pilgrimage and tourism.

In this context, planned development of this historical area is necessary not only to preserve its heritage but also to give new impetus to trade and tourism, as well as to strengthen the historical identity of Old Delhi in a new form. (ANI)