Chandni Chowk’s Town Hall to be developed as ‘Global Heritage Centre’: CM

The Delhi government will redevelop the Town Hall in Chandni Chowk as a Global Heritage Centre with a museum and facilities for cultural and tourism activities, stated the chief minister’s office (CMO) on Sunday.

“Town Hall in Chandni Chowk is not merely a building but an important part of Delhi’s rich history and heritage. The Delhi government is committed to preserving its historical and architectural identity while connecting it with modern tourism and cultural activities,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said.

According to the statement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed between the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) at the Delhi Secretariat on Sunday. 

Spread over approximately 12,180 square metres, the project will cover the Town Hall, Press Building and Park in the Chandni Chowk and Shahjahanabad areas, it added.

Tourism potential

The project aims to undertake the adaptive reuse of the historic building while preserving its original heritage identity. The proposed Global Heritage Centre is planned to include a museum, cultural activities and facilities related to tourism, according to the statement.

The Grade-I heritage complex was built between 1860 and 1866 and served as the MCD’s headquarter till it was shifted to the Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Civic Centre on Minto Road in 2010. Since then, a large part of the complex has remained vacant.

According to the MoU, ownership of the historic complex will remain with the MCD. 

DTTDC has been entrusted with conducting surveys, carrying out a structural assessment of the building and preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project. Subsequently, the option of developing the project through public investment or the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model will be decided.

“Located in a highly busy area with a large flow of tourists, near Chandni Chowk and the Old Delhi Railway Station, the complex has considerable potential for better utilisation,” the statement added.

Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said, “Our effort is to make historical monuments more attractive and useful for domestic and international tourists while preserving their heritage.”