New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered the renaming of the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation as the Indraprastha Virasat Punarvikas Nigam (IVPN) to restore the historic, cultural, and architectural heritage of Old Delhi, an official said on Thursday.

Chief Minister Gupta said that through the Corporation, a comprehensive and serious initiative has begun to preserve Old Delhi’s historical identity while equipping it with modern civic amenities.

As part of this initiative, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Indraprastha Virasat Punarvikas Nigam was held under the chairpersonship of the Chief Minister.

The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister and Vice Chairman of the corporation Ashish Sood, Managing Director Sandeep Kumar and senior officials from the concerned departments.

Several key decisions were taken regarding the holistic redevelopment of Old Delhi, heritage conservation, the expansion of civic infrastructure, and the promotion of tourism.

It was decided that the redevelopment of the historic Chandni Chowk would be accorded the highest priority, she said.

The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that the market’s design clearly reflects its historical identity, traditional character and cultural significance.

She also instructed the development of modern, functional public toilet blocks, given the daily movement of lakhs of people through the area.

Reviewing the redevelopment of the historic Town Hall, Chief Minister Gupta directed that a major entry and exit point be created from the Chandni Chowk side as well, so that the landmark building can emerge as a major heritage and tourist destination.

The meeting also emphasised safeguarding the interests of local traders and shopkeepers to maintain a balance between heritage conservation and commercial activity.

The Chief Minister said that the Chandni Chowk market had evolved alongside the area’s development and that restoring its past glory would require keeping the interests of its markets, traders and shopkeepers at the forefront.

She added that the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk must take into account the interests of its markets, tourists, shoppers and local residents alike.

Keeping visitors’ convenience in mind, the Chief Minister also directed that a dedicated control room be established in the market to provide information, guidance, and prompt assistance to tourists arriving from across India and abroad.

Special emphasis was also laid on developing organised parking facilities to make access and vehicle parking more convenient for visitors, said an official statement.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to prepare a detailed blueprint for the integrated development of the Hanuman Temple at Yamuna Bazaar and the area behind it as part of the larger redevelopment project.

She also directed officials to prepare a comprehensive plan for the beautification and redevelopment of the Jama Masjid area and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Marg in front of the Old Delhi Railway Station.

The meeting also stressed that the development of Old Delhi should not remain confined to physical infrastructure alone. Instead, heritage conservation, tourism promotion, economic activity, civic amenities and environmental sustainability should all be pursued through an integrated approach.

With this objective, Indraprastha Virasat Punarvikas Nigam will take forward heritage conservation alongside modern urban development.

The initiative will include the conservation of historic buildings, the modernisation of infrastructure, solid waste management, traffic management, the expansion of tourism facilities, and other related works.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that Delhi’s historic heritage is not only a part of the city’s cultural identity but also an invaluable legacy for future generations.

She said that all development works must ensure the preservation of Old Delhi’s historical identity, traditional character and architectural beauty.

–IANS

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