The popular Khanna Market in lodhi Colony will soon wear a refurbished look with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) planning to redevelop the 60 years old market.

The redevelopment plan has been devised in order to give all the shops in the market a uniform look besides creating mezzanine floors on the existing shops. This will create more space for shops in the market. Moreover, the size of the shops is also going to be slashed and made common for all.

Khanna Market, named after the then Union Minister for Rehabilitation Mehar Chand Khanna, was built in the year 1953. The market is host to one of the most prominent eateries in Delhi like Ram Singh Bhoj and Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel.

Khanna Market currently has around 120 single-storey shops with half mezzanine floors. The NDMC has proposed converting them into double-storey shops with full mezzanine. “The decision will benefit the shopkeepers as they will have more space vertically. The new mezzanine floors will be given to the same shop owners,” said an NDMC official.

“The map for the construction of first floor has been prepared by the NDMC. We will carry out the construction on our own once we get a nod from the concerned agencies,” said Ravindra Grover, president of Khanna Market Traders’ Association.

“The renovation work, once completed, will add to the aesthetic beauty of the market. The shutters, windows and doors of all the shops should bear the same look. In fact, even the material used in them should be common,” said the official. However, as the shops are given to private stakeholders, the changes will be done by the shop owners themselves who, according to officials, will submit an affidavit to the civic body stating the necessary modifications to be carried out.

“The shop owners have agreed upon for redeveloping their shops. The finishing, which includes painting,

may be done by us. We will extend whatever necessary help is required. Sewer lines will be augmented by us. We will also construct new pavements and make the area more appealing to people,” the official added.

However, a flipside to the redevelopment of the market is that sizes of the shops will be reduced by 2.5 square feet in order to remove encroachment by several shops in the market. Sources said that more parking space, wide walkways and alleys for emergency exit are also on the cards while carrying out revamp of the market.