If things go according to plan, Jama Masjid will stand out as the “most elegant mosque in Asia” with the Delhi High Court approving an ambitious MCD redevelopment plan worth Rs 100 crore.
Not just the mosque, even the surroundings will be done up.
The court had earlier ordered that a comprehensive plan be made for redeveloping the historic mosque and its contiguous areas.
A presentation on the proposed redevelopment and restoration was made before a division bench of Justices Vijender Jain and Rekha Sharma last week. If the project gets implemented within the given two years’ time, then all visual obstructions — including the police post at the back of the mosque (called Dost Chowki) — will be gone. There will be ample space for parking and pedestrians.
The mosque building itself is in urgent need to restoration. Conservation architect Navin Piplani, in his presentation, said the mosque was “decaying and there is heavy water seepage”.
He said that a large number of constructions that have come up within the compound of the mosque will have to be removed.
{{/usCountry}}He said that a large number of constructions that have come up within the compound of the mosque will have to be removed.
{{/usCountry}}In his presentation, architect Pradeep Sachdeva said even the roof of the Meena Bazaar and the structures around it will have to go so that one gets a clear view of the mosque from all sides.
The tyre market, auto spare parts market and junk dealers behind the mosque will have to be shifted and the outer facades of the surrounding buildings restored to provide the right foil for the mosque.