Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday inaugurated the redevelopment and beautified areas of Chandni Chowk market which went through several delays owing to Covid -19 pandemic. The project was to be inaugurated on April 17 this year but cancelled due to the second wave of the virus.
Kejriwal said that broken roads, traffic jams, hanging electric wires used to punctuate Chandni Chowk; at the same time, now people from all over Delhi are coming to see how beautiful Chandni Chowk has become.
He said that there are many more plans to develop this entire stretch as a tourist destination and street food will be allowed in this redeveloped area till 12 AM, so that visitors can enjoy.
“In the entire world, when someone speaks of Delhi, they remember Chandni Chowk for sure. Chandni Chowk's image some time before was of broken roads, traffic jams, electric wires hanging all around. Overall, Chandni Chowk had a very dirty image. In the last 3 years, Delhi Government has carried out the redevelopment and beautification project in Chandni Chowk,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor said.
Under this project, the 1.4 km stretch from Red Fort to Fatehpuri Mosque has been beautified, the traffic problem has been resolved, CCTVs have been installed, all the hanging electrical wires are underground now and Chandni Chowk has become one of the most beautiful and important tourist spots of Delhi. “We have more plans to develop Chandni Chowk as a tourist spot. In the coming times, these plans will be finalised and we'll keep implementing them. This beautification project has been a great success, and I congratulate the people of Delhi for witnessing this development,” the CM added.
Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain said, “All the major problems of the area, like roads and overhanging wires, have been dealt with. We will further facelift the entire area and give it a splendid look. We will soon operate electrical vehicles that match with the look of the area for the convenience of the people.”
Taking it to micro blogging site, Jain tweeted, "Chandni Chowk has been redeveloped under the guidance of Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. Today, the main road of Chandni Chowk is one of the most beautiful places in Delhi. This redevelopment work is a glimpse of how the Delhi government will make entire Delhi the most beautiful city in the world."
The proposal for redevelopment of Chandni Chowk was approved on August 27 2018. The transfer of facilities under this project was completed in December 2018. Work on the main project started in March 2019 by the Public Works Department. The Chandni Chowk corridor was notified in June 2021.