Allow Cookies!
By using our website, you agree to the use of cookies
In view of the proposed redevelopment in the area of Chandni Chowk, which links the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid, the heritage experts along with other urban planners filed a petition against the proposal for redevelopment. Chandni Chowk located in the Old Delhi or Shahjahanabad, had water tunnel in its central median. The very name ‘Chandni Chowk’ came into being due to the reflection of moonlight on the channel.The Redevelopment proposal targets the construction of urinals, transformers and police booths, and the same had the petitioners to approach the Hon’ble High Court. Justice S Muralidhar said the petitioners—conservation architect Smita Datta Makhija, renowned urban planner and former INTACH convenor AG Krishna Menon, Ashok B Lall and Sujata Kohli—to represent their concerns before a committee consisting of agencies such as PWD, DUAC, ASI, and a nodal officer Nitin Panigrahi in its next meeting before March 5.
The Court had to face other applications filed by chambers of Anish Dayal requesting intervention in the case of Manushi Singham Vs GNCTD and Ors, wherein matters pertinent to the creation of lanes for rickshaws and licensing of such rickshaw pullers as a part of Chandni Chowk Redevelopment.However, those petitioners who had come to preserve the heritage, through their counsel Vibha Datta Makhija, prayed for intervention to preserve the view along the central median between the Fatehpuri Masjid and the Red Fort. Reports such as planned construction of urinals, water ATMs, transformers and police booths in the ChandniChowk vicinity forced the petitioners to move before the high court for intervention.
The petitioner contended that the current proposal for the redevelopment of the area was entirely different from the earlier proposal. The applicant happened to understand the plan submitted by the Architects commissioned by the authorities for the relocation of all 23 transformers (3.5 X 4.5 meters each) along with 6 toilets (3.5 x 11.2 meters each), 3 urinal blocks (3.5 x 4.8 meters each), 3 police booths (3.5 x 2.4 meters each), 2 police posts (3.5 x 9.2 meters each) and 2 traffic police booths (3.5 x 2.4 meters each)in the central median of the Chandni Chowk.The visualization of the scheme on the website of SRDC (Shahjanabad Redevelopment Corporation) did not represent the level of visual obstruction that may be caused by the relocation of the said establishments. As per the earlier proposal, the utilities were suuposed to be located near the pedestrian pathway, and all the transformers, cables, pipes would be accessible through an underground tunnel.
Having made the above points, the petitioners emphasized the significance of the heritage of the vista along with the central median between the Red Fort and the Fatehpuri Masjid. It was one of the important capitals in the 17th century. The central vista is the centre of attraction in that domain. Also, there is a ceremonial axis where there was a water channel on which the moonlight fell to bestow the title ‘Chandni Chowk’. Therefore, it is imperative to preserve the heritage of the central vista along with the central median supported by carriageways on both the sides and the row of other establishments which have been preserved for centuries.
Therefore, under no circumstance, the construction of urinals, transformers be allowed as it would cause an irreversible visual obstruction between the two carriageways, thereby destroying the wide stretch of the area and leading to the increase in costs. Further, the petitioners submitted that establishing six toilet blocks coupled with three urinal blocks in a central section would need people to reach the central, thus resulting in further congestion.
86540
103860
630
114
59824