Currently, in a bad state, the museum in Shri Narayan Building in Lahori Gate and the area around it is encroached for parking cars by the nearby spice market traders.
A year after the budget was released for the refurbishing of the Lahori Gate museum, no work has been started. The early 19th-century haveli in Lahori Gate was converted into a museum in 2004 but due to the encroachments by shopkeepers, it has been in a dilapidated state for over a decade now. Even though the redevelopment of the museum was proposed in 2008 but despite the budget release in 2017, no work has started yet.
"Of the total Rs 3.32 crore sanctioned for the restoration work, we received the initial Rs 1.6 crore last year. The file related to this is currently in the ministry and we cannot move forward until we receive a green signal from them," said a senior official from the North Corporation.
Currently, in a bad state, the museum in Shri Narayan Building in Lahori Gate and the area around it is encroached for parking cars by the nearby spice market traders. With broken doors and windowpanes and missing spotlight bulbs, the haveli is in a need of urgent restoration. The dusty plaque hung outside the main door announcing 'Lahori Gate museum'is the only reminder that it was supposed to be a one-stop destination to showcase the charm of the Walled City.
"We were informed that once the budget is received, a DPR (detailed project report) will be required but no such information has been asked of us. The museum badly requires restoration," said Ajay Kumar, director (projects), INTACH, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.
Till 2003, the haveli was serving as a dispensary for the poor after which the then Member of Parliament, Chandni Chowk area, Vijay Goel identified it as a potential site for a museum and used funds to restore the haveli and convert it into a museum. The MCD, however, has failed to preserve it further.
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