Delhi Govt To Create Heritage Corridor & Revamp Around Jama Masjid

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After the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk main road, the Delhi government has decided to give a facelift to the area around the Jama Masjid, and has appointed a consultant for preparing a detailed plan.
The consultant will also prepare the plan for the second phase of Chandni chowk redevelopment and creation of a heritage corridor between Delhi Gate and Kashmere Gate.

About Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk in Delhi is one of the largest and oldest markets in India.
Chandni Chowk or ‘Moonlit Square’ was built in the 17th Century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s daughter Jahanara Begum.

In front of the Bibi ka Serai in Shahjahanabad was a water tank, surrounded by buildings, and on moonlit nights, the buildings would get illuminated as the moonlight reflected on them from the tank — and so the name Chandni Chowk emerged.
It’s interesting to note that till before 1857, it was always mentioned as a “square,” including in Mirza Sangin Beg’s Sair-ul-Manazil, written in the 1820s, and in Asar-us-Sanadid written by scholar reformist Syed Ahmed Khan in 1847. After the Revolt of 1857, Chandni Chowk finds mention in a map as a “street.”

The idea of the ambitious revamp of Chandni Chowk first came up in 2004. In 2008, the then Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, set up the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) but the plan did not take off till 2018 — when Delhi’s Deputy CM Manish Sisodia launched the project.
The mega facelift project built across 550,000 sq. ft comprises 24 buildings that include an emporium, a museum, a sacred kitchen, a Vedic library, a centre to store ancient scriptures, a city gallery, and a food court – all built around the temple that serves as one of the nerve centres of the Hindu faith, attracting seven million pilgrims annually.

When the idea that the stretch will be a car-free zone was floated, the main concern of traders was loading and off-loading of goods. This issue was solved and it was decided that the stretch will be a non-motorised zone from 9 am to 9 pm only. Post 9 pm, loading and off-loading of goods in motorised vehicles is allowed.
Another issue that was raised by traders was that if vehicles aren’t allowed, the footfall might suffer, and parking might be an issue. This too was resolved and the North MCD is building a multi-level parking facility at Chandni Chowk’s Gandhi Maidan to accommodate over 2,300 cars. It will have eight floors and three underground levels.

In 2019, another problem emerged when DUAC objected to the placement of the 19 transformers on the central verge as it would ruin the view. Meetings with BSES, SRDC, DUAC and Sachdeva were held to resolve the matter.

It had long been Modi’s vision to create better conditions for pilgrims and devotees, who had to endure the infamously congested streets and surroundings of the temple.

The government has decided to take up the façade improvement of buildings along the 1.5km-long Chandni Chowk main market stretch and the improvement of six adjoining roads.
The project will involve streetscaping and dedicated lanes for non-motorised vehicles.

Netaji Shubhash Marg (Delhi Gate to Kashmere Gate); Jama Masjid Road; Chandni Chowk Road (Phase 2) for facade work; and six roads adjoining to main Chandni Chowk stretch.
The six roads include Nai Sarak, Bali Maran Road, Gali Qasim Jan Road, Rodgran Road, Farash Khana, and Lal Kuan Main Road.

The government now intends to make the densely populated and congested area pedestrian-friendly, free of encroachment and upgrade the existing infrastructure.
The objective of the project is to “develop the roads as heritage roads and re-align various services in consultancy with respective service providing agency, that is water supply, electricity, drainage, communication etc in such as away so that there is minimum interface among the services during their operation and maintenance along with the safety of road users”.

Recent Challenges

In areas surrounding the Jama Masjid, there is a lot of encroachment by hawkers and shopkeepers in the market.
Most of these people are not locals. Due to the lack of hygiene and cleanliness, local residents avoid going into these areas.
If the government decides to redevelop these areas, the locals should be given a chance to reclaim the streets as is being done on the Chandni Chowk stretch from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid.

The area needs public toilets, sitting arrangements, and drinking water facilities.
It is an international mosque but hawkers should also be given dedicated places for work and operations.

Question:
Jama Masjid in Delhi is built by: