Chandni Chowk facelift: Wires to go underground

To restore the lost glory of Shahjahanbad, the Delhi government on Monday launched two projects under which overhead wires will be laid underground and the entire stretch of Chandni Chowk will be revamped.

To restore the lost glory of Shahjahanbad, the Delhi government on Monday launched two projects under which overhead wires will be laid underground and the entire stretch of Chandni Chowk will be revamped.

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The Shahjahanbad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) along with MCD and power distribution company BYPL has come up with these projects.

For starters, the SRDC has shortlisted a few major roads to be taken up in phase 1. They include the Main Road of Chandni Chowk from Red Fort to Lahore Gate, Church Mission Road, Esplanade Road, HC Sen Road, Naya Bazar, Khari Bowli, Nai Sarak and Dariba.

In Daryaganj zone, the project would start from the Jama Masjid Urdu Bazar Marg and Matia Mahal Road.

“This project will play an important role in improving the aesthetics and restoring the past glory of the historic Shahjahanabad. Wider consultations with the residents and traders were made while finalising the plan,” said Kapil Sibal, union HRD minister.

The projects were inaugurated in the presence of HRD minister Kapil Sibal, Delhi’s development minister AK Walia and Delhi power minister Haroon Yusuf, among others.

The project will be implemented by BSES Yamuna Power Limited at an estimated cost of R13.23 crore and will be entirely funded and monitored by the SRDC.

The second project—the Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Plan—will be implemented by the MCD. The civic agency will initiate the work of providing pathways as per the Redevelopment Plan. The project aims at taking remedial measure to decongest the current mixed traffic congestion.