Delhi Govt plans Rs 34 crore upkeep of historic Chandni Chowk stretch

Delhi Government plans to hire a private firm to beautify and maintain the historically significant 1.3-kilometre stretch of Chandni Chowk, starting from Red Fort Junction to Fatehpuri Mosque, and five other lanes interconnected to this stretch.

“To improve the situation at the revamped stretch of Chandni Chowk, we plan to hire a facility management company for housekeeping, cleanliness, repair work, horticulture work, etc. The work will be given initially for three years,” an official said.

In the past few years, the stretch has fallen into neglect, facing problems of sanitation and cleanliness due to a tussle between the Public Works Department (PWD) and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over the maintenance of the revamped stretch.

“A tender has been issued to hire a company at the approximate cost of Rs 34 crores; there will be penalties on the contractor if there are violations of the contract,” the official said.

The identified areas include the main Chandni Chowk corridor, Dewan Hall Road, Esplanade Road, HC Sen Marg, Rai Kedarnath Marg, Town Hall Chowk, Shanti Desai Marg and associated interconnected areas. Lal Jain Mandir and the Fatehpuri Mosque areas are also covered in the plan.

As per the scheme, security guards will be deployed, jet machines will be used for washing roads, toilet areas and public utility assets. Further, garbage disposal vehicles will transport collected waste to designated MCD disposal sites and horticulture work will also be undertaken.

“Security personnel will be deployed in three eight-hour shifts to provide continuous watch and ward at key locations,” the plan states.

Ride-on scrubbers will be deployed for mechanised cleaning of paved areas and footpaths wherever required, PWD added.

The work will also involve cleaning and desilting drains and connected structures, removing and transporting accumulated sludge and debris, and ensuring uninterrupted flow through the drainage system.

The redeveloped road was inaugurated in 2021 during the previous government. Initially, there was FMS till the end of 2023. The PWD, however, did not renew the contract owing to jurisdiction issues with the MCD, the official added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also heads the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC), held a meeting and directed the officials to restore the glory of Old Delhi.