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Gole market museum to have ‘women of Delhi and India’ theme
On Wednesday, officials from NDMC had said that the project will be completed within a year at a cost of ₹21.6 crore.
A day after the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced a revamp plan for the historic Gole Market and proposed to turn it into a museum, Delhi lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena announced that the museum’s theme will be “women of Delhi and India”.
Officials said that discussions are ongoing regarding the women who will be featured; but the women will have made considerable contribution to Delhi and its development over the years. Some of these women may include Sucheta Kriplani — the first member of parliament from Delhi; Manu Bhandari, Indira Goswami and Aruna Asaf Ali, all doyens of Indian literature; Sheila Dikshit, Delhi’s longest serving chief minister; Sushma Swaraj, Delhi’s first female CM, and Kiran Bedi, India’s first female IPS officer.
“Restoration and renovation of the historic and iconic Gole Market in the Capital pending since 2006 is set to begin in the next few days, with the theme and design to this effect, having been finalised by NDMC, under the guidance of Delhi LG VK Saxena. The existing building will be restored into a museum with the theme of women...,” a statement from the LG read.
Officials said that in a meeting held last week, LG went through a presentation suggesting different themes for the museum along with development of other components. Some of the other themes included “food of Delhi or culinary museum”, “the making of New Delhi” and “Indraprastha: the ancient city of Delhi”.
“The proposed renovation plan aims at restoring the existing structure rather than demolishing it and apart from developing the market area, will also develop a museum at the site. At the same time, the immediate neighbouring area will also be developed to provide ample parking and connecting underground corridors to the market from approaching roads. The tenders for this project have been finalised and work is expected to start soon,” the statement added.
On Wednesday, officials from NDMC had said that the project will be completed within a year at a cost of ₹21.6 crore.
“We had a meeting with the LG about two weeks ago where the themes were discussed, and ‘women of India’ was selected,” said Satish Upadhyay, NDMC vice chairperson.
Meanwhile, the renovation plans have drawn mixed responses from traders at the Gole Market.
Sarat Chandra Sinha, owner of Bengali Silk Trading Corporation opposite the Gole Market structure, said, “We have not been informed of any renovation work on the surrounding shops. There are mostly government quarters here so it is very difficult to say if the museum will attract tourists.”
Parameshwar Kuldipkar, owner of an automobile repair shop in the same area, seemed more positive about the changes. “There is a possibility that the revamp may attract tourists and more businesses might flourish and be beneficial for all shops here,” said Kuldipkar.
Some of the changes proposed in the renovation plan include standardising signage with rolling blinds in the verandah, removal of encroachment, change in finish and material incompatibility, and restoring and revitalising the central courtyard and overall façade, among others.
The proposal also mentions that the courtyard roof will be constructed in structural steel framework covered with toughened glass or polycarbonate sheeting, like the Covent Garden historic market in London.
