After nearly two decades of neglect, an 11-km stretch along the Munak Canal is being transformed into a dedicated Chhath Puja venue, with the Delhi Government preparing to open it to devotees this year. The project, which includes facilities on both banks, is expected to benefit thousands of families across five Assembly constituencies.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin will inaugurate the ghat on Thursday at Labour Chowk near Singalpur village in Shalimar Bagh. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra and other Delhi Government ministers are expected to attend the event.
The Government has described the project as the longest Chhath ghat in Delhi and the first of its kind in the country to be developed along a canal. This year, devotees will be able to perform the festival rituals across the full 11-km stretch.
The revival began with a major cleaning exercise. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, around 1,400 truckloads of garbage, construction debris and accumulated waste were removed from the canal area.
The stretch had remained without proper cleaning for nearly 20 years. Encroachments along both banks were also cleared before development work began.
The Irrigation and Flood Control Department is developing the site with facilities intended to make the annual festival more accessible to devotees. Permanent steps and paved roads are being built along both banks.
The plan also includes changing rooms, toilets, tents, lighting arrangements and CCTV cameras. Benches and green spaces are being added to improve the surroundings. The Government also plans to ensure clean water flows through the canal and install fountains at different points.
Three bridges are under construction to improve movement between the two banks. Most of the work is complete, and the remaining construction, including the bridges and landscaping, is expected to be finished over the next two to three months. The project is expected to serve residents of Shalimar Bagh, Wazirpur, Model Town, Adarsh Nagar and Badli.
It is particularly significant for families from Purvanchal, for whom Chhath is an important religious and cultural occasion. A larger, better-equipped venue will allow devotees in these areas to perform the rituals without relying on smaller or less developed sites.
The Government plans to retain the stretch as a public recreational space beyond the festival. Once the remaining work is completed, the canal-side area is expected to offer residents a place for walks and leisure amid greenery.
Chief Minister said she had regularly reviewed the project and visited the site several times to monitor its progress. She said the transformation was intended to recognise the religious and cultural significance of Chhath for lakhs of Purvanchal families living in the capital.
She said the festival’s rituals, including offerings to the rising and setting Sun, reflected gratitude towards nature and the well-being of families. The Government wanted devotees to have a clean, safe and convenient place to observe the festival, she added.
The Chief Minister also said the development of Singalpur Road and the revival of the canal would improve facilities for families living in the surrounding areas.
The project marks an attempt to give a neglected stretch a wider civic purpose, with the Government seeking to turn a seasonal religious venue into a permanent public space.
For now, the immediate task is to ensure that the entire stretch is ready to receive Chhath devotees.