Old Delhi body set to get Indraprastha tag soon

A final decision on the new name – which they said will highlight the cultural and historical importance of the Walled City, also known as Shahjahanabad – is expected in the coming days.

Indraprastha Virasat Punarsthaapana Nigam, Indraprastha Dharohar Sanrakshan Evam Vikas Parishad, and Indraprastha Punarutthan Parishad: These three are the new names being considered by the Delhi government for the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) – the body tasked with protecting and restoring the heritage of Old Delhi.

Officials said that the proposal was discussed in detail, and three names were shortlisted in order of preference.

Officials familiar with the decision process, who asked not to be identified, said the final choice will be made by the CM, who heads the SRDC,“soon”, with the names picked aimed at reflecting the “cultural and historical identity of the Walled City.”

The decision follows a high-level review meeting on March 13chaired by chief minister Rekha Gupta, after which she announced the government’s plan to rename SRDC.

Officials cited above said that the proposal was discussed in detail, and three names were shortlisted in order of preference. The aim, they said, is to connect the redevelopment work with the city’s rich past and heritage.

A final decision on the new name – which they said will highlight the cultural and historical importance of the Walled City, also known as Shahjahanabad – is expected in the coming days.

To be sure, the idea of renaming SRDC is not new. In November 2025, during a corporation meeting, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk Praveen Khandelwal suggested the organisation should be rebuilt from the ground up and proposed alternative names such as “Indraprastha Redevelopment Corporation” and “Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Corporation.”

The discussion also comes amid repeated demands – mostly from BJP leaders – to rename Delhi as Indraprastha.

Earlier this year, Khandelwal wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah requesting that Delhi be officially renamed Indraprastha, citing historical texts, archaeological findings, and traditions linking present-day Delhi to the ancient capital of the Pandavas, as described in the Mahabharata.

The demand was also raised by BJP MLA from Wazirpur, Poonam Sharma, during the Budget Session of the Delhi Assembly last month.

SRDC was established in 2008 by the Delhi government with an aim to protect and restore the Capital’s cultural and natural heritage. It brought together experts from history, architecture, and conservation to coordinate restoration work across heritage areas.

One of SRDC’s most notable achievements was the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk, a 1.6km stretch from Lal Jain Mandir to Fatehpuri Masjid, which was transformed into a pedestrian-friendly zone with improved building facades, which was seen as a model for heritage-sensitive development in a crowded metropolitan area such as Old Delhi.

However, the plan to extend the project up to Jama Masjid faced delays due to inter-agency conflicts and the prolonged political tussles in the city.

Now, with a possible new name, the government hopes to give the organisation a fresh identity while continuing its work of preserving Delhi’s heritage.