Despite the hefty investment of Rs 140 crore in the Chandni Chowk redevelopment project, concerns persist over the oversight in the recently installed map.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – As part of the redevelopment project in Central Delhi’s iconic Chandni Chowk area, the Public Works Department (PWD) has installed a comprehensive map delineating the historic locality and its surrounding areas on a sizable plaque. Spanning approximately 1,300 meters from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid, this map aims to facilitate tourists in navigating the plethora of important landmarks in Chandni Chowk. However, the absence of several significant sites on the map has sparked criticism from locals.
The meticulously crafted map showcases notable landmarks such as the Town Hall, Paranthe Wali Gali, Fountain Chowk, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, Central Baptist Church, Gauri Shankar Mandir, Digambar Jain Lal Mandir, and the iconic Red Fort. Additionally, it features various connecting lanes and bylanes. Yet, recent scrutiny has shed light on the glaring omissions, prompting concerns from the community.
A viral video on WhatsApp shows a woman questioning the exclusion of the 18th-century Sunehri Majid situated near Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib. While the map acknowledges Masjid Sarai Topkhana, it neglects to depict the Sunehri Masjid and the acclaimed Ballimaran area near Fatehpuri Masjid.
Notably absent from the map are landmarks like Mirza Ghalib’s Haveli and Hindustani Dawakhana established by Hakim Ajmal Khan, raising concerns among social activists and community leaders.
Sheikh Aleemuddin, a prominent social activist, criticised the PWD’s oversight, stressing the importance of accurately representing the historical significance of Chandni Chowk.
Social workers M. Nafees and Zakir Hussain echoed these sentiments, highlighting the neglect of key religious sites, mansions, and havelis in the PWD’s installation. They are planning to draft a formal request urging the authorities to rectify the oversight and reinstall an updated map, ensuring that foreign tourists are properly informed about the rich historical tapestry of Chandni Chowk.
Despite the hefty investment of Rs 140 crore in the Chandni Chowk redevelopment project, concerns persist over the oversight in the recently installed map. The project, initiated in December 2018 and inaugurated in December 2021, aimed to revitalise the historic area, but shortcomings have marred its completion.
Indian Express Editorial
This incident has sparked broader criticism of the treatment of historical sites in Delhi, with leading newspapers expressing dismay over the disregard for cultural heritage. The recent editorial by the Indian Express highlighted the demolition of the Akhoondji Masjid in South Delhi’s Mehrauli neighbourhood, stressing the urgent need to strengthen conservation efforts to safeguard Delhi’s rich architectural legacy.
“The present case is particularly disquieting because it points to what a weaponisation of a rightful mandate might do to a significant part of Delhi’s cultural heritage — its Islamic past. It also underscores the need to strengthen the conservation mechanism to address such questions. In a city like Delhi, with its wealth of heritage monuments, demolitions cannot happen in an arbitrary manner,” observed the editorial.
